tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14473976973345116882024-03-12T19:02:26.196-04:00Scott's Brain Meat"By the time I am through, you will all taste my brain meat." - Spider Jerusalem.AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-75354527755382480222017-10-31T12:16:00.001-04:002017-10-31T12:16:34.448-04:00John Kelly Courageously Defends Slavery and Treason<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Remember when Trump announced John Kelly as the new <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Chief_of_Staff" rel="wikipedia" title="White House Chief of Staff">White
House Chief of Staff</a> and everybody breathed a collective sigh of relief? “This
isn’t another Trump stooge,” rational American assured themselves, “this is a
General, a well-respected career military man.” Hopeful citizens grasped
tenuously at this new glimmer of hope. “John Kelly will be a voice of reason in
the Trump White House. Finally, there will be an adult in the room.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So much for hope.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first sign that we were all wrong about Kelly was when
Kelly defended Trump’s botched sympathy call to a fallen soldier’s widow by
deliberately and provably (roll that tape!) lying about Rep. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederica_Wilson" rel="wikipedia" title="Frederica Wilson">Frederica Wilson</a>
in a blatant attempt at character assassination. It was a betrayal of that hope
he had instilled in rational America, and all we got in return was Sarah
Huckabee Sanders shaming reporters for the “inappropriate” act of actually
questioning a General. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was bad enough.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But now, rational Americans woke of on Halloween morning to a
cavalcade of racist apologies and convoluted historical revisionism that most
of us didn’t expect to hear until Grandpa showed up for <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_dinner" rel="wikipedia" title="Thanksgiving dinner">Thanksgiving dinner</a>.
This self-destruction of John Kelly’s “Voice of Reason” persona occurred during
an interview on the debut of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Ingraham" rel="wikipedia" title="Laura Ingraham">Laura Ingraham</a>’s new Fox News show Monday Night,
which is why rational American’s didn’t hear about it until the following day.
But what they heard was almost as insane and illogical as the average Trump
Tweet. First, he was asked if he would consider apologizing for lying about
Wilson:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I'll apologize if I need to. But for something like that,
absolutely not. I stand by my comments, But I'd just as soon let that
go."<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kelly said he’d apologize if necessary, but since he’s a
Trump lacky now, lying doesn’t count as something worth apologizing for. Just
to double down on his courageous stance against honesty, Kelly trails off by
saying he stands by his statement, but would rather forget he ever said it.
Spoken like a man of true conviction.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leeedit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Confederate General Robert E. Lee pos..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="200" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Leeedit.jpg/350px-Leeedit.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="162" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">English: Confederate General Robert E. Lee poses in a late April 1865( http://www.archives.gov/research/civil-war/photos/#portraits ) portrait taken by Mathew Brady in Richmond, Virginia. Lee's surrender to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865, soon before this portrait was taken, marked the end of the American Civil War. Dust and scratches removed by Thegreenj (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Leeedit.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bulk of the well-deserved outrage, however, stems from
Ingraham quizzing Kelly on his opinion about the recent rash of removing
statues and plaques that commemorate confederate soldiers and leaders. This is
a debate that has already been going on for months now, and the only reason the
right wing media refuses to let it die is because they can’t stop pandering to
the racist minority that has become the GOP’s new base. For most people, the
obvious answer to the question is that removing memorials that praise people
who actively fought against the government in an attempt to keep slavery legal
are a bad idea, because you don’t reward people for doing bad things. John
Kelly, however, has proved that even a military man of distinction can still
openly abandon morality and logic in order to keep his job. However, not just
content to fall back on the “destroying history” argument, Kelly went one step
farther and decided to rewrite history before anti-slavery fanatics could
destroy it by removing some plaques. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I would tell you that <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee" rel="wikipedia" title="Robert E. Lee">Robert E. Lee</a> was an honorable man. He
was a man that gave up his country to fight for his state, which 150 years ago
was more important than country. It was always loyalty to state first back in
those days.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, in the opinion of General Kelly, White House Chief of
Staff, we should be commemorating General Lee because he was loyal to his
cause. Well now, that’s awfully progressive of Kelly. Now, what was it that
General Lee’s loyalty was focused on? Oh yes, overthrowing the United States
Government and ensuring the legality of owning human beings as slaves. Well
now, wasn’t that noble of Lee? I guess we really shouldn’t judge Lee for trying
to destroy America and condemn an entire race to enslavement. It was all about
state’s rights back then, after all. That makes the whole treason and slavery
angle so much more understandable. But wait, much like a Trump Tweet, Kelly
isn’t done digging yet:<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Edward_Lee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Portrait of Gen. Robert E. Lee, officer of the..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="200" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Robert_Edward_Lee.jpg/350px-Robert_Edward_Lee.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="135" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">Portrait of Gen. Robert E. Lee, officer of the Confederate Army (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Edward_Lee.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Now it's different today. But the lack of an ability to
compromise led to the Civil War, and men and women of good faith on both sides
made their stand where their conscience had them make their stand.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hmmmm… a lack of compromise. That’s an unusual way of saying
“refused to let go of slavery.” I mean, what possible reason could Kelly have
for being so obtuse about the cause of the Civil War? If he had just said that
“ALL wars” are cause by a lack of compromise, that would have had a bit of
truth imbedded in it, and maybe we could give a pass on this one. But no,
instead he specifically stated that the Civil War was caused by a lack of
compromise. Since he just got done talking about how Loyal Lee was, should we
infer that this “compromise” should have occurred on the side of the
Confederacy? Somebody should probably ask him to clarify. Oh, and let’s not
forget the “men and women of good faith on both sides,” which is almost an
exact quote from when Trump came out and said that there were good people
involved in white nationalist <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Nazism" rel="wikipedia" title="Neo-Nazism">neo-Nazi</a> organizations, and that we shouldn’t
blame them for being racist bigoted assholes. I’m paraphrasing, of course, but
I’m quoting accurately from the Kelly interview:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think we make a mistake, though, and as a society and
certainly as, as individuals, when we take what is today accepted as right and
wrong and go back 100, 200, 300 years or more and say what those, you know,
what Christopher Columbus did was wrong. You know, 500 years later, it's
inconceivable to me that you would take what we think now and apply it back
then.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s so much stupid in this sentence, we need to convert
it into Trump-friendly bullet points:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Morality is relative to when you are born.</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">We as individuals shouldn’t judge the past
actions of groups.</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Right and Wrong was different 100 years ago, so
no harm, No foul.</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The Genocide of Native Americans touched off by
Christopher Columbus wasn’t “wrong” because it was so long ago.</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It’s inconceivable that people would apply
current experience and knowledge to past events.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wow, how convenient! All past atrocities can so easily be
dismissed as unfortunate faux pas. I wonder what other historical events we can
apply Kelly’s tortured logic to, with 100 years being his given milestone for
chalking behavior up to old-timey thinking. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Klu Klux Klan? Just passionate nationalists,
nothing to blink at.</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The lynching of black Americans? Technically not
100 years yet, but hang in there!</span></li>
<li>·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The Holocaust? By Kelly’s estimate, we’re only a
few decades away from being able to shrug it off as just “men and women of good
faith on both sides.”</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gee, it all seems kind of stupid and cruel when you break
down the logic behind the argument. Much like the Confederacy. If the esteemed
former General of America’s armed forces is done making excuses for treason and
racism, we’d all like to get back to impeaching our disgrace of a president,
thank you very much.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://triblive.com/politics/politicalheadlines/12894494-74/kelly-refuses-to-apologize-for-false-attacks-on-florida-congresswoman" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/381225268_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://triblive.com/politics/politicalheadlines/12894494-74/kelly-refuses-to-apologize-for-false-attacks-on-florida-congresswoman" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Kelly refuses to apologize for false attacks on Florida congresswoman</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.motherjones.com/media/2017/10/myeshia-johnson-breaks-her-silence-says-trump-couldnt-remember-husbands-name/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/381118620_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.motherjones.com/media/2017/10/myeshia-johnson-breaks-her-silence-says-trump-couldnt-remember-husbands-name/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Myeshia Johnson Breaks Her Silence, Says Trump Couldn't Remember Husband's Name</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://time.com/4991848/john-kelly-frederica-wilson-fbi-building-video/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/381086036_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://time.com/4991848/john-kelly-frederica-wilson-fbi-building-video/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">This Video Shows John Kelly Misrepresented a Speech Rep. Frederica Wilson Gave in 2015</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/ideology-as-spectator-sport.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/342293751_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/ideology-as-spectator-sport.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ideology as a Spectator Sport</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/2017/10/charges_insults_fly_after_trump_aide_assails_congresswoman" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/381092984_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/2017/10/charges_insults_fly_after_trump_aide_assails_congresswoman" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Charges, insults fly after Trump aide assails congresswoman</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/10/why-trump-cant-handle-the-cost-of-war/543492/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/381082695_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/10/why-trump-cant-handle-the-cost-of-war/543492/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Why Trump Can't Handle the Cost of War</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-63052994500064841342017-10-12T12:46:00.000-04:002017-10-12T12:46:05.320-04:00IMHO<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Mr._T_Experience_-_Everybody%27s_Entitled_to_Their_Own_Opinion_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Everybody's Entitled to Their Own Opinion" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="200" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0b/The_Mr._T_Experience_-_Everybody%27s_Entitled_to_Their_Own_Opinion_cover.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 256px;">Everybody's Entitled to Their Own Opinion (Photo credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Mr._T_Experience_-_Everybody%27s_Entitled_to_Their_Own_Opinion_cover.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are several phrases that set me on edge when used in a
discussion, conversation, or debate:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Let’s agree to disagree.” No.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Both sides do it.” No they don’t.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"You just don’t understand” I do understand. That’s why I
disagree with you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But out of them all, the one that irks me is the inevitable:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“People are entitled to their opinion.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No. They are not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all, the concept that people are ‘entitled’ to
anything is a fallacy, and I don’t mean in a right-wing “<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entitlement" rel="wikipedia" title="Entitlement">entitlement programs</a>”
or left wing “white entitlement” sense. We’re talking about the concept of
universal entitlements, or rights. People are not automatically imbued with <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_and_legal_rights" rel="wikipedia" title="Natural and legal rights">inalienable
rights</a>, regardless of what your two-hundred-year-old country’s rulebook says.
People are not naturally free, do not automatically deserve respect or equality
or happiness or privacy, and definitely not their opinion. There is the
potential for all of these, but this potential is not a universal constant as
much as it is a possibility based almost entirely on the individual’s surrounding
environment, be that environment natural or societal. As a society we can
dictate that people SHOULD be treated equal and fairly and decently, but that
has nothing to do with nature. In fact, nature repeatedly goes out of its way
to show us that she couldn’t give a shit about us or our social contracts. If these
assumed “rights” were actually some sort of natural law, would we really need
so many human laws, laws we barely obey in the first place? <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_law" rel="wikipedia" title="Natural law">Natural Law</a> boils
down to eat or be eaten, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-made_law" rel="wikipedia" title="Man-made law">Human Law</a> is just there to prevent us from eating each
other, and Ape Law is meant to prevent Human Law from fucking up Natural Law.
You can’t argue with Ape Law.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, if people aren’t truly “entitled” to anything, then they
can’t be entitled to their opinion, can they? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, for even more clarification,
let’s look at that popular generic term “opinion.” What is an opinion?
According to a random dictionary, the main definition is:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“…a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily
based on fact or knowledge.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To drill down even further, an opinion is basically a
belief, and beliefs are not based on factual proof or evidence, but instead are
contingent on the personal rationalization of the believer. Simply put,
believing something, or having an opinion about something, is done so when
there’s no proof or evidence to back that belief or opinion. For example:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I believe in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God" rel="wikipedia" title="God">God</a>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I believe in ghosts.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I believe that severed rabbit paws bring me good luck.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I believe that my race is the master race.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of these statements, while possibly involving some
degree of anecdotal experience or general knowledge, cannot be definitively
proven. Granted, there are some exceptions to this rule. The first example
could also be meant to imply faith instead of opinion; when somebody says “I
believe in America,” they aren’t stating a belief in America’s existence, which
can be proven, but rather a faith in what it stands for, which – of course – is
also based on opinion rather than fact.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, you could argue that the words <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belief" rel="wikipedia" title="Belief">Belief</a> or <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion" rel="wikipedia" title="Opinion">Opinion</a>
could conceivably be used in factually provable statement, but while this is a
sound theory, they are not generally applied this way in practice. You could
say “I believe the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth" rel="wikipedia" title="Earth">Earth</a> is round,” but you typically would not feel the need
to do so, as the rest of the statement is not only provable, but generally accepted
as fact. On the other hand, you are more likely to say “In my opinion, the
world is flat,” as this statement is provably false.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orlando-Ferguson-flat-earth-map_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Map of the Square and Stationary Earth, by Orl..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="137" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Orlando-Ferguson-flat-earth-map_edit.jpg/350px-Orlando-Ferguson-flat-earth-map_edit.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">Map of the Square and Stationary Earth, by Orlando Ferguson (1893) (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orlando-Ferguson-flat-earth-map_edit.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, God and a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Earth" rel="wikipedia" title="Flat Earth">Flat Earth</a> neatly encompass the entire
scope of the need to designate something as a belief or opinion. In the case of
God, even though a large group of people share the belief, there is still no
quantifiable evidence to treat <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existence_of_God" rel="wikipedia" title="Existence of God">God’s existence</a> as a fact. This same principle
is adhered to by the scientific community as well, as concepts agreed upon by a
large group of scientists – gravity, for example – are described as theories
rather than facts. In the case of the Flat Earth, not only is no evidence to
prove the belief, there is also no majority to support it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, now that we have a better understanding of entitlements
and opinions, I think it’s safe to restate that people are NOT entitled their
opinions. You have the potential to form an opinion and have it accepted by
others, but no guarantee. You can have an opinion, but that does not make it
valid, nor does that make it equal to all other opinions. Instead of “Everybody
is entitled to their opinion,” you might as well say “Everybody has the
potential to be wrong.” And if you are the person espousing a belief in
entitled opinions, your potential to be wrong is greater than most.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The other version of this that annoys me even more is when
somebody attempts to finish a discussion, debate, or argument by saying “Well,
that’s YOUR opinion.” Ironically, the person who launches this gem is usually the
least able to factually support their own opinion, resorting to labeling the
other person’s argument as inarguable, despite whatever argument has already
been provided. Logically, if the person who this statement is directed at
actually has no factual basis to support their opinion, the person claiming it
as just an opinion wouldn’t need to do so, as their factual evidence would
theoretically be able to prove it as such based on its own merit. In the case
where neither party has enough factual support to claim victory, the “That’s
your opinion” person will invariably resort to the aforementioned “Let’s agree
to disagree,” which is code for “I know I’m wrong, but I’m not going to admit
it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beyond that, the other major problem with telling somebody
that something is just their opinion is that most of what people say is
opinion-based to begin with. In fact, so much of our daily communications with
others are based on personal opinion that we typically don’t even bother saying
it. This is why most casual discussions about anything subjective don’t descend
into heated debates over whose opinion is more valid. We understand - at least subconsciously
– that its all a load of opinionated beliefs, and so we all just forge through
most dialogues with the unspoken agreement that our opinion is accurate, and
everybody else with a differing or contradictory one is simply full of shit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At least, that’s my opinion. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/10/confusing_the_evolution_debate.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/380847281_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/10/confusing_the_evolution_debate.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Confusing the Evolution Debate</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-supporters-roy-moore-alabama-special-election-2017-9" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/380678017_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-supporters-roy-moore-alabama-special-election-2017-9" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Many of Trump's strongest supporters are fighting against him in Alabama's special election</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/ideology-as-spectator-sport.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/342293751_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/ideology-as-spectator-sport.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ideology as a Spectator Sport</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2017/10/taking-stand-on-controversial-knee.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/AV8HQ6m8-fGRp8gKCaCv_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2017/10/taking-stand-on-controversial-knee.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Taking a Stand on the Controversial Knee</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-minimum-moral-wage.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/271260473_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-minimum-moral-wage.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Minimum Moral Wage</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-47011685743417171042017-10-11T13:01:00.000-04:002017-10-11T13:01:08.042-04:00Is America Good Reader?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_End_of_Books_-_page_229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="The End of Books - page 229" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="320" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/The_End_of_Books_-_page_229.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 253px;">The End of Books - page 229 (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_End_of_Books_-_page_229.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ten or fifteen years ago, the company I worked for laid me
off after ten years for essentially not being happy enough.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Spoiler: A little over a year later, the owner would call me
to apologize and beg me to come back to work for him, as it took him nearly a
year of doing my job to realize exactly how much of the work I was actually
doing. This has absolutely nothing to do with this story, but sometimes you
need to flaunt your victories.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In an effort to ease the blow (most likely because even at
that point he realized how fucked up his reasons were for firing me), my newly
former employer put in a good word for me at the company of one of his business
owner friends. Apparently, this is what small business owners do, They make
friends with other small business owners, and occasionally meet for breakfast
so they can bitch about labor laws and share cigar bar locations with one
another. Anyway, the business he introduced me to was a company that tested
underground fuel tanks and fuel lines, and they hired me based solely on my
newly former employer’s recommendation. I’m not exactly sure how you recommend
an employee you just fired to somebody else for employment, but I digress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The job lasted a month, the traditional probationary period,
at the end of which they called me on location and informed me that they would
not be keeping me on as an employee because I did not have “a passion” for
testing gas station pumps for leaks. I wholeheartedly agreed, and that was the
last time I ever worked with gasoline or set foot in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.8373,-73.886&spn=1.0,1.0&q=40.8373,-73.886%20(The%20Bronx)&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="The Bronx">the Bronx</a>. But I digress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This fuel line and tank testing company was based out of
<a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=41.0,-77.5&spn=3.0,3.0&q=41.0,-77.5%20(Pennsylvania)&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania</a>, but provided its services to a number of states along the East
Coast, so a typical day would include three or four hours on site, but with an
additional four to six hours travel each way. Driving a truck six hours each
way in itself is a monotonous and soul-withering experience, but this was
compounded by a company policy that restricted passenger employees from
sleeping while en route. The official reason for this rule was that a second
pair of eyes on the road was a safety precaution that would help prevent
accidents, but the more obvious reason was that somebody didn’t like the idea
of paying employees for sleeping. That’s what you call “corporate morality.”
But I digress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_End_of_Books_-_page_226b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="The End of Books - page 226b" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="224" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/The_End_of_Books_-_page_226b.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 264px;">The End of Books - page 226b (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_End_of_Books_-_page_226b.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because of these lengthy daily commutes, and the
restrictions against napping as a passenger during a fourteen-hour work day, I
got into the habit of bringing along books to read when it was my turn to be
the wide awake passenger. To set the record straight, I didn’t bring along any
reading material that might be misconstrued as an attempt to be an intellectual
show-off. In fact, at the time of this little story, I was reading one of the
Wild Cards anthology paperbacks, a collection of short stories about
superheroes, and way before superheroes were mainstream cash cows.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, anyway, it was during a lunch break one of these trips,
which I spent sitting in the work truck reading this paperback. There were two
other workers on site with me, and one of them approached me as if they
intended to start a casual conversation. This was one of the company foremen; I
had ridden with him several times already, and had no issues with him other
than his tendency to fully enforce the company’s no-sleep policy, yet
repeatedly bypass it himself by wearing sunglasses and pretending to be “deep
in thought” during return trips. I lowered the book as he approached, and when
he reached the truck he placed a hand casually on the open passenger side door,
motioned to the book with his eyes, and said:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“So… You read.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is an exact quote. He didn’t ask if I read a lot. He
didn’t ask what I was reading, or what I usually read. It wasn’t even a
question, but more of the cautious statement of an observation. Not quite
knowing where he was taking the conversation, or what “you read” was actually
supposed to mean, I paused before responding with a nod and a
non-confrontational “Yep.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And with that, he turned and walked away. There was no
follow-up question or springboard into a conversation about a lateral topic. He
didn’t even respond to my acknowledgement of his statement. He just turned
around and walked back to other on-site worker and joined him staring into the
hole we currently couldn’t do anything about.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jgrisham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: All 24 John Griham novels as of June ..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="240" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Jgrisham.jpg/350px-Jgrisham.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">English: All 24 John Griham novels as of June 30, 2010 (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jgrisham.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If there’s a point to this story, it’s that I don’t believe
there is an actual push-back against literacy in America, as much as there is a
vast divide those who actively read – whether for pleasure or enlightenment –
and those who not only don’t read, but don’t really understand the nature of
reading. And despite bizarre moments like this, I’ve rarely been the victim of
direct hostility over false perceptions of presumed intellectual superiority.
The employer who fired me, got me the wonderful gas-line job, then later hired
me back (FYI – He laid me off again a few years later when the business almost
went bankrupt) was not “a reader,” and not only did he not give me any grief
about it, he often asked me to proof-read his emails, and was very supportive when
my first book was published. Another former employer wasn’t what you would call
well read – his house was decorated with randomly arranged <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.jgrisham.com/" rel="homepage" title="John Grisham">John Grisham</a>
hardcovers – but one of my jobs was to write instruction manuals for the
software he sold, so that was rarely a source of contention. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The closest I ever came to being harassed or singled out for
being literate was when I worked for this evil motherfucker that openly broke
payroll laws and had no problem with verbally or physically attacking
employees. He was a blatant functional illiterate, only used his computer
watching <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.628101,-122.426424&spn=1.0,1.0&q=37.628101,-122.426424%20(YouTube)&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="YouTube">YouTube videos</a>, and the only (obviously unread) book on display in his
office was Trump’s ghost-written <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump%3A_The_Art_of_the_Deal" rel="wikipedia" title="Trump: The Art of the Deal">Art of the Deal</a>. It was an overwhelmingly
hostile and demeaning work environment, and during my measly half-hour lunch
breaks I would hide out in the company “lounge” (i.e.: extended kitchen) and do
some journal writing. One lunch break I looked up to find him hovering over me
with this stupid smirk on his face. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What are you doing?” He asked. I responded that I was
writing, even though the pen being dragged over blank pages sort of implied
that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then he asked “You write in that often?” Again, my current
spot in the middle of the thick journal was evidence enough, but I responded with “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He just smiled at me again, nodded, then walked away. It
wasn’t until five or ten minutes later that I realized he was, in his own way,
making fun of me for writing in a book, and it only occurred to me at all
because of that idiotic grin of his that he always wore when he thought he was
smarter than the person he was talking to. Essentially, the jackass was
standing there laughing at me for writing. He didn’t even know what I was
writing, mind you. It was the act of writing itself that he found humorous.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As jarring as that moment was at the time, it still manages
to support my previous observation that the challenge towards literacy in this
country is just basic understanding, and not some kind of intellectual class
warfare. The abusive idiot mentioned above (years later he would make the</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KruglikovaLikbez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Soviet propaganda poster by Elizaveta..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="320" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/KruglikovaLikbez.jpg/350px-KruglikovaLikbez.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">English: Soviet propaganda poster by Elizaveta Kruglikova advocating female literacy. The top section reads: "Woman! Learn to read and write!" The bottom (meant to be said by the daughter): "Oh, mommy! If you were literate, you could help me!" (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KruglikovaLikbez.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
local
news when he was arrested for giving his effeminate son – who he once referred
to at work as a “walking fallopian tube” – a loaded gun and daring him to use
it) wasn’t threatened by my literacy. He wasn’t motivated by feelings of inadequacy
or a belief that I was somehow attempting to appear superior to him. The truth
is, he was not only convinced that he was smarter than me, but he saw my
tendency towards reading and writing as proof that he was better than me. (The
reality, of course, is that I was definitely smarter and better than him, but
that had nothing to do with literacy, and everything to do with him being an
arrogant, racist, abusive, labor law breaking soulless cocksucker slum-lord
idiot). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we’re in a weird area when it comes to promoting literacy
in country where a predominant portion of the population is mired in a culture
that embraces the idea that books aren’t just stupid, but practically alien.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not a book snob by any stretch of the imagination. I think that film and television
are just as capable of providing worthwhile entertainment and thought-provoking
learning experiences, and I don’t believe that not knowing how to read or being
well read automatically implies ignorance or stupidity. I tend to look at
reading like most people regard physical exercise or eating healthy; it’s a
good thing to do, and everybody should do it, but not doing it doesn’t make you
a bad person. Of course, we also live in a country where the last First Lady’s
desire for children to eat healthier was seen by many as controversial and
“anti-freedom,” so maybe I should get used to being asked stupid questions
during my lunch breaks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/10/06/children-struggle-read-write-may-actually-have-hearing-problems/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/380888569_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/10/06/children-struggle-read-write-may-actually-have-hearing-problems/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Children who struggle to read or write may actually have hearing problems, study finds</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://mashable.com/2017/09/29/melania-trump-dr-seuss-library-donation-rejected/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/noimg_127_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://mashable.com/2017/09/29/melania-trump-dr-seuss-library-donation-rejected/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Librarian sends back 'cliche' and 'racist' Dr. Seuss books donated by Melania Trump</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/tax-deductions-and-credits-2/happy-employee-appreciation-day-19205/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/AVBcj8mKto-4PcWPepto_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/tax-deductions-and-credits-2/happy-employee-appreciation-day-19205/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Happy Employee Appreciation Day!</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-59986198803993255612017-10-10T12:45:00.000-04:002017-10-10T12:45:18.406-04:00Taking a Stand on the Controversial Knee<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t follow football. I don’t watch it, I have no opinion
regarding the people who play it, and I exert very little energy towards even
acknowledging it as a cultural experience. Outside of the occasional <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_commercials" rel="wikipedia" title="Super Bowl commercials">Super Bowl
commercial</a>, I have never spent as much time reading about it or listening to
heated debates regarding it until the past two weeks. Even when <a class="zem_slink" href="http://twitter.com/kaepernick7" rel="twitter" title="Colin Kaepernick">Colin Kaepernick</a><b> </b>first made the news
by kneeling during the national anthem, I didn’t give it a second glance. After
all, it isn’t like this country doesn’t get itself all worked up over
patriotism and acts of protest. I grew up during the height of the whole flag
burning thing. Nothing new to see here. So why am I actually writing about
Football players and patriotism? I think you know the reason why.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dorothea_Lange_pledge_of_allegiance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Dorothea Lange picture of Japanese-Am..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="320" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Dorothea_Lange_pledge_of_allegiance.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 268px;">English: Dorothea Lange picture of Japanese-American children reciting the pledge of allegiance (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dorothea_Lange_pledge_of_allegiance.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before I touch on that reason, a little backstory on my dog
in this hunt. I attended high school at <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.799349,-74.1971&spn=0.01,0.01&q=40.799349,-74.1971%20(Bloomfield%20High%20School%20%28New%20Jersey%29)&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="Bloomfield High School (New Jersey)">Bloomfield High School</a> in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomfield%2C_New_Jersey" rel="wikipedia" title="Bloomfield, New Jersey">Bloomfield,
NJ</a> (And for the record, yes, BHS can go fuck itself). The standing rule at the
time (late eighties, early nineties) was that students were required to stand
and place their hand on their chest during the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance" rel="wikipedia" title="Pledge of Allegiance">Pledge of Allegiance</a>, but they
were not required to actually recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I have no idea
how or why this specific rule came about, but I do know that I followed these
guidelines by standing every morning, but never actually reciting the pledge.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
I assure you, I was not protesting anything specific at the
time. My reluctance – I can’t truthfully say refusal, since technically
nobody was trying to force me – to verbally pledge allegiance to my country of
birth had nothing to do with the multiple rational (or even irrational) reasons
one might choose to give America the silent treatment, as it were. My reasoning had more
to do with the logic, or lack thereof, involved in the entire production. As a
fat kid, I had already spent years being emotionally and physically assaulted
with constant reminders that I was not considered part of whatever group
bullies and their enablers assume to speak for. My pre-high school experiences
in communal exclusion made it even harder to swallow the concept of “school
pride,” and exposed the hypocrisy in asking me to actively support and root for
a group of people that at best didn’t give a shit about me, and at worst
actively bullied and shunned me. It wasn’t just the actions of my fellow
students that made school spirit a joke, the school itself was often criminally
negligent and openly apathetic towards individual students like myself. Forcing
me to spend an hour in a crowded auditorium “supporting” the school’s football
team (fuck the Bengals) was not just a joke, it was a bad joke.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SECOND_GRADERS_PLEDGE_ALLEGIANCE_IN_ROCKPORT_ELEMENTARY_SCHOOL_-_NARA_-_548243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="SECOND GRADERS PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE IN ROCKPORT E..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="216" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/SECOND_GRADERS_PLEDGE_ALLEGIANCE_IN_ROCKPORT_ELEMENTARY_SCHOOL_-_NARA_-_548243.jpg/350px-SECOND_GRADERS_PLEDGE_ALLEGIANCE_IN_ROCKPORT_ELEMENTARY_SCHOOL_-_NARA_-_548243.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">SECOND GRADERS PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE IN ROCKPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - NARA - 548243 (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SECOND_GRADERS_PLEDGE_ALLEGIANCE_IN_ROCKPORT_ELEMENTARY_SCHOOL_-_NARA_-_548243.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It wasn’t much of a leap for my teenage self to correlate
school spirit with national pride. It wasn’t that I didn’t have any national
pride than it was that I didn’t see the logic in a daily mandatory public
display of it. As high school students, we had already been taught about the
ruthless dictatorships that demanded unwavering allegiance, and how America was
so much better than other countries because we were allowed to publicly dissent.
As American’s we were allowed to believe in anything we wanted to, even if that
meant not believing in the government. Yet here I was, being forced to stand
and salute every morning. Not only did this morning ritual of ceremonial
worship contradictory to the concept of freedom of speech and thought, it also
didn’t make sense in the regard that it didn’t accomplish anything. There is
nothing educational about reciting a pledge to avoid punishment, and for the
casual observer (which there never was), it would be impossible to discern
which students actually believed in the pledge, and how many were just
following orders. By the way, you know who else followed orders? That’s right,
the Nazis. But I digress…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So fast forward to 2017, in an America where football
players are kneeling during the national anthem, and the country is waging yet
another heated debate over how free our freedom of speech truly is. And let’s
clarify the situation here: This was all originally about ONE ATHLETE kneeling
during the national anthem to protest the national trend of unarmed black men
and children being killed by law enforcement officers who frequently go
unpunished. It wasn’t until the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" rel="wikipedia" title="President of the United States">President of the United States</a> decided to weigh
in on the whole thing by tweeting that American citizens should be fired from
their jobs for exercising their constitutional rights, as well as publicly
calling peaceful protesters “sons of bitches,” that dozens of other athletes started
taking a knee during the national anthem in support of the first guy that
started doing it. In short, all of the kneeling going on now is in support of
the right of somebody else to take a knee during a national anthem in protest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Crazy, huh?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so, as usual, the original reason for the controversial
action is forgotten, and the reason behind the increased support is lost or
ignored, by the majority of the people both attacking and defending the most
benign act of public civil protest you could possibly imagine. Seriously. Kaepernick kneeling during <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner" rel="wikipedia" title="The Star-Spangled Banner">the
National Anthem</a> is no greater a gesture than me not reciting the Pledge of
Allegiance in high school. Of course, to be fair, I was just a stupid white kid
in a classroom annoyed at being told what to do, while Kaepernick is a wealthy black athlete being watched on national
television by an audience that is at least (statistically speaking) partially
comprised of bigoted racists. Oh, and the President of the United States didn’t
use his platform as a world leader to call me names and demand my expulsion. So
there’s that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are some questions you should be asking if you are
actively debating this kerfuffle (be sure to do your own research, and please
cite your references):<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<ul>
<li>Why is the National Anthem played before sporting events?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Is it legally mandatory to “respect” a public display of
Nationalism?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Does the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution" rel="wikipedia" title="United States Constitution">U.S. Constitution</a> allow for legally mandated
<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriotism" rel="wikipedia" title="Patriotism">Patriotism</a>?</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here are some additional questions you should ask yourself
(research isn’t required, but it is recommended): <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<ul>
<li>How does someone else’s Patriotism, or lack thereof,
directly affect you?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If your opinion actually matters, does it matter more than,
less than, or as much as the kneeling Athlete?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Exactly how involved should our country’s leaders be involved
in the behavior of professional athletes?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Would you be less outraged if the person in question was a
white football player kneeling during the National Anthem in support of Cliven
Bundy?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>If a football player kneels during the National Anthem in a
forest with nobody to witness it, would Trump still tweet about it?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Does someone else’s lack of Patriotism strengthen or
diminish your own Patriotism?</li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those upset that I have yet to definitively state a binary
opinion on the issue that they can easily reject or claim victory over, I defer
to my teenage self for an official statement, as I seriously doubt the logic
involved has changed much in the last twenty-five years or so:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being forced to pledge allegiance to something is dumb.
Denying someone the freedom to choose how to react to a symbol that stands for
freedom of expression is dumb. Being upset because somebody doesn’t worship
something the same way you do is dumb. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, most importantly, football is
dumb. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2017/09/15/teacher-on-leave-over-alleged-assault-of-boy-who-refused-to-stand-for-pledge-of-allegiance/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/380591266_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2017/09/15/teacher-on-leave-over-alleged-assault-of-boy-who-refused-to-stand-for-pledge-of-allegiance/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Teacher On Leave Over Alleged Assault Of Boy Who Refused To Stand For Pledge Of Allegiance</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/ideology-as-spectator-sport.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/noimg_62_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/ideology-as-spectator-sport.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ideology as a Spectator Sport</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-nfl-change-national-anthem-protests-ratings-2017-9" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/380754167_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-nfl-change-national-anthem-protests-ratings-2017-9" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">TRUMP: The NFL must change or it will 'go to hell'</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="https://nebraskaradionetwork.com/2017/09/27/former-nebraska-sen-chuck-hagel-says-trump-should-focus-on-something-other-than-nfl-protests/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/380763863_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="https://nebraskaradionetwork.com/2017/09/27/former-nebraska-sen-chuck-hagel-says-trump-should-focus-on-something-other-than-nfl-protests/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel says Trump should focus on something other than NFL protests</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/09/nfl-players-across-the-country-take-a-knee-in-response-to-trump/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/380711619_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/09/nfl-players-across-the-country-take-a-knee-in-response-to-trump/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">NFL Players Across the Country Take A Knee In Response To Trump</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/24/donald-trump-calls-nfl-boycott-latest-attack-sportsmen-bend/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/380711427_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/24/donald-trump-calls-nfl-boycott-latest-attack-sportsmen-bend/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Donald Trump says NFL anthem protests have 'nothing to do with race' as fresh demonstrations follow Wembley stunt</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-37059931495029547732015-10-26T17:26:00.000-04:002015-10-26T18:58:52.284-04:00Yes, Black People Can Be Racist. Here's Why.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Definitions are important. Words mean something for
a reason, and when they are misused, the result is confusion. When you attempt
to rectify the confusion by changing the definition of the word instead of
choosing a different word, things just go from bad to worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First, let's start with the definition of the word
Racism. I'm going with Oxford on this one, just because. First, we have:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prejudice" rel="wikipedia" title="Prejudice">Prejudice</a>, discrimination, or antagonism directed
against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is
superior:</span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The second definition
is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="definition"><i><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;">The belief that all members of each race possess
characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to
distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.</span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is pretty straightforward. Racism is when
someone (or a group, organization, government, etc.) sees or treats someone as
inferior <u>or superior</u> based solely on their race. The first definition
covers being treated differently based on this belief, the second definition is
the belief in itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let's also get the definition of Prejudice so we're
all on the same page:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason
or actual experience</span>.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dislike, hostility, or unjust behavior deriving
from unfounded opinions</span>.</i><span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In this case, if you
are prejudiced, you believe something that is technically illogical, or treat
someone negatively because of this illogical belief. Personally, I am not
comfortable with this definition, as having a preconceived opinion not based on
reason or experience could be easily applied to religious belief, which is a
faith beyond reason or experience. But, this is what we've been given, so let's
deal with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Before we go any
further, let us dispense with the term <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_racism" rel="wikipedia" title="Reverse racism">Reverse Racism</a>. This is not a real
thing. Not for the same reasons that some people are claiming that black people
can't be <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism" rel="wikipedia" title="Racism">racist</a>, but for the fact that it does not adhere to the definition of
racism. Reverse Racism implies the <i>opposite</i>
of racism. Going by the definition of racism as quoted above, that would mean
NOT </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">seeing
or treating someone differently based solely on their race. Claiming that a
<a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU" rel="youtube" title="Obama Speech: 'A More Perfect Union'">black person</a> being prejudice against a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people" rel="wikipedia" title="White people">white person</a> is the <i>opposite</i> of racism implies that racism is only when a white person
is prejudiced against a black person. Reverse Racism is a racist term in itself
that further confuses the issue, and is not based in any kind of logic or
reason. Now that we've got that out of the way...<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">My first point may seem
a bit inflammatory, but if you're patient you'll see that I'm not just trying
to piss people off. The argument that black people cannot be racist is not new,
but it has been gaining a strong foothold lately with Black Lives Matter, a
necessary and mostly reasonable civil rights movement created in the wake of a
rash of (sadly not uncommon) unjustified killings of unarmed black children by
police officers, as well as injuries and fatalities resulting from overly excessive
force used by police when dealing with black people. There are literally way
too many to list, just do a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://google.com/" rel="homepage" title="Google Search">Google search</a> and be prepared for some very
depressing results. So, let's start this by pointing out the major flaw of the
Black Lives Matter movement that is compounding all of this confusion:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Black Lives Matter is
not trying to stop Racism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you think my opinion
in this case doesn't matter because I am white, just stop reading and save us
both the hassle. What I'm saying is that racism is a personal
belief or opinion OR actions applied based on that belief. If we're being
totally logical here, we have to admit that we cannot prevent people from being
racist. Racism and prejudice are both a belief or opinion. Behavior based on
those opinions is covered by their definition, but it is still behavior based
on a belief, and the belief is not dependent on the behavior. You don't have to
act out on a racist belief in order for it to be racism; all you need to do is
believe it. To think that we can actively alter what people believe is
foolhardy to say the least. Governments in the past that have attempted to
outlaw religious faiths or political movements have proven this firsthand.
People cling to opinions and beliefs and defend them passionately, often times
in the face of reason. Sure, you can slowly, gradually, with time and patience,
change someone's mind. But just demanding that a specific opinion be abandoned
based solely on your opinion? Good luck with that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So, when I say that
Black Lives Matter isn't trying to stop racism, I'm not selling some bizarre
Sean Hannity conspiracy theory that it's a Muslim hate group comparable to the
KKK. What I mean is that the Black Lives Matter movement is really trying to
stop <i>institutionalized racism on a judicial
and political level</i>. It doesn't fit well into a hashtag, but it's the
reality of the situation. The movement was born out of the fatal shootings of
unarmed black children by police, shootings that were covered up by police,
governments officials, and in some cases, even the media. These acts have
pointed to a still-present racism inherent in a system that treats black people
as lesser individuals, ignores basic human rights, and then systematically
tries to hide this bias when it results in inexcusable injuries and/or fatalities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Obviously, the
injustices don't stop there. From disproportionate criminal punishments and
prison populations to shady laws - such as Stop & Frisk - designed to
bypass civil rights, the racist undertones in many judicial and legislative
actions can be easily demonstrated. This needs to change, and Black Lives
Matter is the latest movement dedicating itself to doing so. They are trying to
address the issue that black people are being treated unfairly, negatively, and
often oppressively, by our government and law enforcement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What they aren't trying
to do is make you like them. They aren't trying to say "You can't hate me
just because I'm black." What they are saying is "You can't treat me
as an inferior just because I am black." And this is where the confusion
sets in. Because even though what they are fighting against is
institutionalized racist policies and behaviors, they've decide to cover it all
under the umbrella of the word Racism. And the fun begins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So Black Lives Matters
comes out against institutionalized racist policies and behaviors, but says it
is fighting Racism. Within their arguments are a lot of references to white
people, some of them not so nice, but possibly deserved if you consider the
actions of the past being perpetrated by the white race as a whole. The
response by some, and logically so, is that if you are speaking out against
judging people based solely on their race - the definition of racism - and in
doing so judge me based solely on me being white, then you are being racist as
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I will argue, for the
record, that this is a logical argument. This is not to say that many who use
it are not doing so just to avoid the real topic at hand, institutionalized
racist policies and behaviors, but despite the motivations of the person making
this argument, the logic is sound. So, in choosing a simple word with a broad
definition to combat a much more complex situation, the Black Lives Matter
movement has stumbled into muddy waters. They've given their detractors a way to
claim hypocrisy on their part and avoid the issue at hand. The correct way to
solve this confusion would have been to say "You're talking about racist
beliefs. We are talking about institutionalized racist policies and behaviors
that effect our entire community on a social, economic, and politic level."
Instead, what they did is change the definition of the word Racism and declare
that white people can't be racist because they aren't being systematically
oppressed by the law and government by the black population.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, Black Lives Matter
is technically correct in using the word racism for stopping institutionalized
racism on a judicial and political level, as that is covered by the definition.
However, they are technically incorrect in claiming that black people are not
capable of racism against white people based solely on the specific aspect of
the definition that they are using. Yes, definitions can gradually change over
time, but this is usually a gradual and unanimous within a culture as a whole, not
an on-the-spot change made by a specific group to make their arguments easier
to make in twitter posts. And beyond that, this is a change in definition only
being applied to one specific situation. Under this new warped definition of
the word Racism, a white person could say to a black person, "I hate you
because of the color of your skin, and what that color represents on a genetic
and historical level," and that person would be (rightfully) declared a
racist. Now reverse the people in this same situation, and the argument is now
that the black person saying this to the white person can't be racist, despite
the exact same wording and intention, because of white privilege and slavery
and anything else that black people have had to endure in this county's sordid
history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, I understand the
desire to make allowances in these cases. It can be safely assumed that the
white person in this example is basing their racist comment on antiquated prejudices,
and the black person on personal experience under white racist authority.
However, if we are willing to make this argument, then we are weakening the
definition of the word even further. If we are going to give my hypothetical
black person a pass on being called racist because he has past experience to
inform this opinion, then what if I give my hypothetical white person a past history
in which fate conspired to only bring him into contact with black people who
treated him or acted around him in such a way to support, or even create, his
prejudice. Do we give the white person a pass as well on being racist because
he has historical evidence for his belief? Common sense usually dictates that
the answer is no, that you still shouldn't treat someone poorly just because
other people belonging to the same group have treated you poorly in the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope the distinctions
I am making here are apparent, because they are what is keeping this racial
discord at the forefront of the movement, and obscuring the true fight that
needs to be fought. Let me clarify some points that I am in agreement on with
the Black Lives Matter movement. This much is true: White people are not having
their children systematically killed by law enforcement officials who then
cover up their unjust murders with the help of government officials. White
people are not being disproportionately arrested or imprisoned (or sentenced to
death), are not receiving disproportionate sentences for possession of drugs
found (disproportionately) in poor black communities than rich white communities,
or find themselves being detained, harassed, or questioned by police on a daily
basis due to the color of their skin. White people don't have to live in a
country in which people are still living that remember when it was illegal for
black people to use water fountains or date white people, and was technically
legal to lynch the black person for doing so. White people have not had to
struggle with their self-identity after centuries of being forcibly removed from
their homeland and attempting to reclaim their own cultural identities after
existing for so long in a country that barely considered them human, let alone
equals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The above is what
should be taken into account, and what needs to be addressed and understood.
Here's what we also need to admit and come to terms with in order to avoid
further conflict and confusion where it only distracts: We are all human
beings, and all human beings are capable of both rational and irrational
behavior, both in group mentality and on an individual level. We are all
capable of love and hate, of compassion and prejudice, of doing the wrong thing
for the right reason, and saying one thing when we really mean something else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This is where the Black
Lives Matter movement is losing white people that support them, and where their
dependence on their own definition of a word is causing them more harm than
good. You can tell somebody that their group is not dealing with the same
economic/social/political situation that yours is, and they will most likely be
able to be convinced of this when the reasoning is explained to them in detail.
But tell that person that they are inherently wrong as an individual based on
the color of their skin, and in the same breath tell them that saying the same
thing about them is impossible, and you are not only insulting logic, you are
insulting the individual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">No doubt I'll be seeing
some backlash to this opinion. These days opinions are like Gods; heaven help
you if you question the validity of someone's deity. So let me clarify, for the
record, that while I might not agree with some of the tactics used by the Black
Lives Matter movement, I am in support of their overall message about erasing institutionalized
racism on a judicial and political level, and I agree that black people are
still treated unfairly by certain components of our culture and society, and
that bringing these to light is the only way to address the problem. All I'm
saying is that attacking people for their race alone, and then arguing that
they are speaking from an inferior position based solely on their race, is
detrimental to the cause. Agree or disagree with my logic, but just don't
dismiss it because I'm white.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/ideology-as-spectator-sport.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/342293751_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/ideology-as-spectator-sport.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ideology as a Spectator Sport</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/03/33012-republicans-defend-racism-and.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/82484915_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/03/33012-republicans-defend-racism-and.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">3/30/12 - Republicans Defend Racism and Trayvon Martin's Murder</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.progressivestoday.com/writer-claims-all-white-people-are-racists-because-science/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/noimg_29_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.progressivestoday.com/writer-claims-all-white-people-are-racists-because-science/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Writer Claims All White People Are Racists BECAUSE SCIENCE!</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/letters/2015-09-22/protesters-misinterpreted" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/noimg_54_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/letters/2015-09-22/protesters-misinterpreted" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Protesters misinterpreted</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/03/rejecting-dialogue-on-race-relations-or.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/noimg_44_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/03/rejecting-dialogue-on-race-relations-or.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Rejecting the Dialogue on Race Relations - or - Taking Your Coffee Black</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/im-not-white.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/noimg_14_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/05/im-not-white.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">I'm Not White</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-66581236791667597902015-09-29T17:52:00.002-04:002015-09-29T17:53:10.287-04:00Film Review: The Visit (2015)<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for the visit 2015" border="0" class="rg_i" data-sz="f" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="X1-gEOE6E_MMhM:" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="height: 159px; margin-top: 0px; width: 318px;" /></a>I find myself defending <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0796117/" rel="imdb" title="M. Night Shyamalan">M. Night Shyamalan</a> more than I'd like to. I make no excuses for <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452637/" rel="imdb" title="Lady in the Water">Lady in the Water</a>, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0949731/" rel="imdb" title="The Happening (2008 film)">The Happening</a> still gives me migraines, and even though he wasn't as in control of studio films like The Last Air Bender or After Earth, he still has to answer for his involvement as a filmmaker. Those are the rules. But his twist endings (show me a film that doesn't have a third act revelation) and distinctive directing style have become more of an excuse to bash him and his body of work, and it has reached the point where you can predict the complaints about his films ("I guessed the twist right away," blah blah blah) before they're posted in the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/" rel="homepage" title="Internet Movie Database">IMDB</a> message boards. M. Night has had the unfortunate task of having to live up to the hype created by the overwhelming success and acclaim of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167404/" rel="imdb" title="The Sixth Sense">The Sixth Sense</a>, and the decreasing quality of his work after The Village (some would argue sooner; I disagree) has done nothing but fueled the ire of his detractors.<br />
<br />
Which is why I am so glad that The Visit has proven to be a sort of redemption for M. Night. Don't get your hopes up too high - this low-budget found footage thriller isn't out to break new ground or redefine the horror genre. Instead, it's doing what it set out to do, which is make an entertaining low-budget found footage horror film. Of course, you're going to have to deal with M. Night's trademark emotional soul-searching in between jump-scares, but that just comes with the territory. Beyond that, there is little here to hate (rationally, at least). The premise is plausible enough for a horror film, the characters and dialogue are as realistic as you are willing to allow (more on that in a moment), and M. Night drops hints and shuffles scenes of tension and levity back and forth enough to be textbook examples of storytelling.<br />
<br />
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxISEhAUEhQUFBAUFRQUEBIQFA8PFBQUFBQWFhQUFBQYHCggGBolHBQUITEhJSkrLi4uFx8zODMsNygtLisBCgoKDg0OGxAQGiwkICQsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLP/AABEIAKUBMQMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAbAAABBQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADAAECBAUGB//EADYQAAIBAgQEAwcCBgMBAAAAAAABAgMRBBIhMQVBUWETcYEGIjKRobHwI8EUFUJS0eFicvGC/8QAGAEAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwT/xAAmEQACAgICAgEFAAMAAAAAAAAAAQIRAyESMUFRYRMiMnGBBLHB/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDxqi9S0kVcOtS7CA56ZpFEGio5vqaOQoTpO70CDQNEM76j+LLqJ030GysvQh/Fl1H8WXUawhASVWXUfxpdWDSHQUgJ+NLqxv4iXUaw0kGhk1Xl1JqvLqBSC0YNtJbsGkI0uFwlO8pN5Vy5yfJHSYTAz6Xl0XILwXhOXw429+zaT/pXOb+qOsw1CMFaK8292cWTLvR1Y8TaMSPCJZdtXuZXFOGSjrZnexiV8bhVOLXYnky3jPOa+Huoy57MDSoXZ0n8DpJfn5uUo4O0tu69Px/IFIyopUKDi1fbquTNGpQjNWlpLk0WXRTQOUNF2/GO7FRiYjDSg7P0fUFY3JJTi4y+JbPr09TKnTtctEgLDpE8osoxDJD2HSJJAIhYVgmUZxAATRBoM0QaACrWjcrOBaruyZWS2KiBOxJRHSCRiAEFEZoNYjNCAEIhcQbCjKw3xI0YyRGVBRtYjViaSkmxqGi0oklTFg1eKLMYmT7AA6RWqaO1jSyFOvH3l5C6AouvHoO60eiKmIg8z8xVVpHyOhY1ojky3mVr8hRnHsCt+mBpboSjdj5FxSj2DKEbXtoZc46s1MNH9IjJHirsqMrZJQhtbU2fZ3BQnNOystfXkYVW6npu1Y7TgWE8Kml/U7OXnvb7IynqN2Uts6HhlDWpPq8ke0Yafe5o0qOoThVH9OHdX+ev7lxUjHidsZJRoHCkQqU7FywKojSjNs5fFRtUkvzXX/JRqQs1+fnM1eO0bOM+W0vIx+IVbfJfNa/5M62ZPQOcreaZXqVbPs/z9yrjMXs1zX20/wAFStib2NUjMv1eq9fr/j6mfiKut/Rh6de6+X0ZRxD1a5P72H4AtZCLgLATzRtzWgdwKEAyklEnlJKICIZRnEJYTQAAlEHJFmSA1VoAFDELYDTjqWa1O6FTp28x3oQyiTSHSJqIgIWB1Q7QCqtRgBsIkIoRCtOG7Zm+O27cuVw+JqxlDRWlcp6t6IuEV5Btm7gqWWOr7lmi1JXTujOwtVeHlk7N6ehZ4RJZWlyb+pDiFl/KUsVD3omiVcXG+W3Uzn0UjAxtSUZyXK/YapVeWD635dGa2J4Ypybva5GXB7xjHNs29upopxpWTxZUpRvScujK+H1klZG3R4c40pQum27rkBocJnFp6b9RKaVjaejKrNJu8VuauEpXouVrIDieEVXJtJWbvuaeEw8oYdxkrPX7iyNOCoIp2CoU0qibV7RzfLl87HSQlloRlLRtSf3Md0JNqyunFJv6m1xalalCPZL6XZhLpI1j2d1gI+7HpZW+QWTOalj60IQyxbSST0fJEKHFMQ3dpW6DRtZ1N0CmwFKtmSYCvXsNMKIcRipRcXs0cXxO6i094/tt9zpqmMi92jC42k05Jp2+JLdoT7JkcxWq7rpqvJledTRDTnqwc5ajRnRaw9bb0ISndd01/j9wFOev51/2SpvR/n5sOiWW8DO1RdJGw4HP0n70PP8Ac6iURoGU3EVg7iNkHYgNiMgziVsbLLFjQAniYXtcarJNKxlzYShUbSXJMoks2E0JysTaEIikTykoRCZRgAaKzV2y3V0TK8UAA7Dk7CAKMAhlHEbiFFGlwV2qW6pmci3wyVqkPP7ky6KidK4g40uxYsSijBqxglS7ElS7FmKCxRPEdlNUiaplxImohxCykqXcd0bprky7lRLIuhPEdlSnTatYvcbf6Sa3urfYZU0WqNHxMkOlWLl/1zX/AGIkqLhslxDEV5S8Omsto3cmlbRXerMbguPrTqTWbNktmdmtXvHZaq3/AKdzVoxbbXxfm5mQwFn7sUr7taFxlGqZpKMr0zT4Z70e9jK47VyXNyhTyxS6I472kxDlJxIXZRg4jEqV22+1tylUrxvaUpRfdM3uG8NUudpdd9Oduj7heK8DhOcZJtRTi3CL91uKsm16v5s2i4+TGSl4Rz7wNOSbjNPy5GbiaDj3Oj4nw27Uo+7JdrX8ynSwMne/Le4m66HTrZgxnr6/n7B6Tu30t9xuIYfJLQlSg4wu95bfVFOqshk8NrOC6yj90ddJHKcGp5q8FyTu/RX/AMHXSQmqEAcRZSdiTQrEAcCviqScXm25hJ4lpvQrYvHJRd43vpZFIQ86VJwyq1vzUxacMkpLfXRg4qyf0GlK1nvcbYUXlZ27E1NdSpKWhGStl2fPyJTEatOIRxKtDFK2odYiJV2IrYyolZdQZDHVYt6PXYq1KiXMLHxLWYRneOIqhUULDqJZnR102Iui+hpyQUwSiHpQcXCXdfRjeDLoKVRuyb25CbvopROsgwl7IxcNiajV9Ld0X4V21y9Dn+pH2VwYeOJfQdY626K0L302HlQv1Icn4ZfFeix/NYrdMmuLw7lB4Lv9AEqKUsrmlpe70FyyBxidJRqqSTWzCKZWoe7GK7adyMsRGPLzNG6COJyLmc6D2cwKjB1Z7z+kVscjRxacpdjp44yTp0obNpKz2XVsh7OiOFQ3ZrPEU29NX5lmkkc7ipwiklZNf1rR36l/B41+Dns3pfTV6f8AhDQ2XsTV0ZwvGZWqXOmxnHIeHfZNX1VmcJiOIwq1LOSWu11cqMdktm/w2W1jWqUrrY5zheMjGoocn8PmjpYVNBPsSKdXCrdmXjZKN7Gli8Ruc3xCvdjQ5KjJxzzVILq7+i1YDiFe7sto6eoOriLTlLmllj582VEzeEdHNJ7N/wBlafvzl0j93/o6RmZ7OUMtK73m7+myNNkN7JINCHZCb0YgMutLVvkArrQKoW768xKNl2fIpCZnKjbYFLD6mlUpW22AuIwsp1eQOS1LFajJvQFGk76pbk0Kw0Y6IQVUnLSLs+u4OeFmnJSkuzirDhBsTZXqUb6gKlMtUY20z5u+gVxvvqDXFjUrRl+CxGn4CGHzYWVZQS30AVKyW2pqTrKW0c3poDjhE94ryQJ+yzL8V/6LFCpB6TivMu/y+HdeTF/K1yb+gp1JGkWkWVJONlt6A1h9rPL+4L+WTXwzXqV69SpT3kpPtqcf0pLpm6pl+vh5Ne7JLuNGVdK14N8m29gGHnXkrqDaHqTq/wBtvmJKS1obosxxk4r38t/+JqcB4f40lWrRXhrWnB65n/c+xT9n+CSre/WuoJ2jH+63N9jr8RTVOK1vppZWNVGtiM7ilTV2sc5jMWkbWLlo78zArKCzTkrpfAns5FrRVml7O4H3nWmmrq1NPTT+5mnxDELVX05PZpr7MzafEv01yVtDHxnFbX6Ak2xSkb+CrOrOMG805O0V25zl5I7qlBRiorZKy9DzD2LxbeJcpP8ApaX+DusXjKq1ik483fUqS3TJvwi3xHBU6scs15NaNeRyGK9lacJaNtX02RqT4zJatSXZq6KFTjV9XZ/NAr8FvHIBT4VGMlLXMtm22bHi2iZVLisJyst/LYuRlcloyuihj8TuYlSpe7L/ABOS1MnETtFj+BSZl1ZahuHYV1ZqK25voiq2dX7LqMaabspTk7dXldjqf2xOZ7ZuUoKKSWyVkSaHGOcZCSAV37rDzKuLegAUKydtNHyY6g8qvq+ZJg8bVyxule3IaAlHvsQqU7eQqVTMk1sFhLkykSVshNVbK2WL80FqU7eQLIUIzsRip5k1CzV9rpN8r9g/CKDquXiNpKPvPZtvVh6lJSTGpT8KjVzNuT279EaR6pEy+Tna9aMZy8K+RaXluamGrXjF3V3vYscMwcVSWZJ3beuoF4dKV0reQf5CitEw3snnENlEchoFgiaRjUcdN8162JLizejt9UauEl4NE17NtIBWx8Y6L3n0RQqVs6SzNfYJgMPaScmnHtuZPIjVQ9hLV6v/ABj8i1h8BCnZy1fWRpwxEeUvmV8Xh1V1dlNaRbd7eg1TBt+CU8ZGC3u+SQbB4WVRqVS8Y722b/0QwOEp03d+9L+6X5oXniAfwOMfZq0cRGP+iti8drZvR7FanLuZ1Zt1M26W3QlI0H4hiFd8+yMSrTlVd5e7TXwo0azXvdWVcXWyr3ehXQAMXVUY5b620RkVauZbL9xYlu2t7tgoI3xJL7mRNN/aixwvFOlUjNa23Xbmen8L4jCpTTTvGSPKZOzNb2Z4o6c8rf6cvo+o8uO1yM4zV15O7xGKjT0T0vta5k4mvne9l2VjT8KE0mBqYWBzKVHR9SVAMLCMVpsQxPEEroHi55djBr4jVg/bMmyeJr5mZ2NqaJBHO5RxUtWVjVyE9IAle/mKbejTacfh1enl0JKJOtTyx13fLojVTfKkaZIRWPa8G/wv2q+GNZdvEj95R/wdFh8XTqfBOMv+rTPNSdObi04tprZp2fzNZYU+tHApnpcyljHsYHDPaSStGrquU7arzS3NitWzNNWato1qjnlFxdM0TsHfUjWd9CKmCnU1FYBqaUVFLRIMrZe7ehQdTUlTTz3vplVl87sOxF+nO+jIVYW8gaYaFRNWZSYgEiFalGayy1TC1oW8gDkWmJgp4FrSNVqK2TSC0KOXmmhSkDnIqU2+yUkuixlj0XzEZX8xXR/QYn+DD4f2bTbzzsv+JmY7hnhTte6fws31WAcTjng3zjsVbGqso4Xh8nu1b5ltYCK/qf2KeExtlYtxk2ZSir2dCYaFNJXTenV3Cxb6lfxoxWr1KFbHtu0SVBeEVZrSxOXdkqeM6bGNBapyLH8RyWwnodm7TxHIHPELYxI4pvnoE8fS4D5FjE11ey9ShisTskCqV9W+bKspFxxuTJeRR7B1a13bkOmkr8xlEFVkdCj4M5ZOKteRTdyMKjT0GuM0anNbuzpOE8fcYqMntz307mt/N3JWik+6ZwsXYvcO4g4Pa65q9jmnh8o3jm9mvjMRU/qTRSly7mvR45hpRanGa/8AlS+qZn4rFYZv3c3yaMHCXo1jOPsrSmQpYVyd36L9yX8VTW0W/OwOePm9vd8t/mCx5HpKv2X9XFHbd/ou1PDpLXWf9q1fr0MepNybb3E5PW+vUizpw4Vj3ds5c2d5H8EWMOxjcxHuXuH8QlT03g+XTuigITipKmNOjqYVk1dO65A8xjYDGOOj+F/TuadzhyQcHRrF2Tcw1Gpv8irDcLSehA6LtORK9tTOq4mUZJKN0936lrOWSXFUvoytVjbyBeJby+wRVL7lJ2BDMRkNNWIZh2Iq/wAD3EW7jDsQLxyVOte6M7xSVKrZouibAvRhliH1BVt35kQrRsmEcr7kqTQISCirLEqhFzBuY1yeI7ZONQjOQ8I3BSZpjipbM8knHQzkMhhG60YN2NUAtBagMQ0QHuMMAEgkASROICCiI3GACTY1xhAA7ZFjkWADCENcBjsQ1xXAB0a2BqXh5aGRc0uH/A/Mxz/iXDstJ7hYPYCgkNzkNWFqK8Wlo2geDpOKd3f9gqJMaeqJZGTBxqWdn6MeTBzVwQiznuBmrAqdSzs/QPmuWIhmEPkQgAx0ySZBDo6SCbEhrjXJNESch09LvbYA31DVo+7Fdria6RSl2Ti4ktCvGNvMTWjJeO/JSy/BazJJ2fIqNluC/ST53aKMpGuD8X+zLM7l/CbGTGixI1MhTBMJMG2A0RYh2MICSRIZMcBCHHi7fnqGVKU1JxWkPj2Vk76/Rkylx7NI404t3v0AEMIozExpDkWAxmMOxgAQhDAA5ocPlozPLuAfxehnl/EuHZfROLA05XVwkTjo1DxkSbARe47kBI8mQchSYGtOyY0hCUrslGtrYp4Ft3dw9WF/M0cadCuyz4gij4ku4h0IrokhCNmSgkI3uQnGwhErstipwuGqTs9k/MQiZK5IqLqLJxpRfK3kyNfCWWj+g4jHnJSqzRxVD01+lb/k/sUKghHVh6f7Zz5O/wCIak9QgwjUhkZEJCEIaIiQhABNIdCEAjpfY7CLxc7d/wBOXutJrVuP7fUz4TbpYp83NN+stvqIRyZu/wCx/wBm2P8A4zJEhCOsxGGsIQAMMxCAY1xxhAA5bwD1EInJ+LHHsvk0xCOI3GTE2OIBEbgq70EIuPZLAYepySLDYhFyJQhhCJGf/9k=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for the visit 2015" border="0" class="rg_i" data-sz="f" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="i5Pk6i3uHOdfcM:" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="height: 164px; margin-top: 0px; width: 303px;" /></a>The setup is straightforward and to the point: A single mother hasn't spoken to her parents since she fought with them about marrying the father of her two children, and who eventually left them. The grandparents contact her online asking to see their grandchildren, the kids agree, and so she reluctantly ships them off to a week with mom-mom and pop-pop at her childhood home while she goes on a Royal Caribbean Cruise (insert blatant product placement here) with her new boyfriend. Becca, the older daughter and film enthusiast, decides to make a documentary of the visit, giving us our excuse for the found-footage nature of the film. The situation is simple and setup early on, giving us plenty of time for slow tension-building and character development as Becca's cameras record far more than she had ever intended.<br />
<br />
Yes, regardless of the setup, a found-footage horror films is already far from original. But that doesn't mean it is bad from the start, and compared to some of the dismal recent entries into this genre - such as The Gallows, or whichever <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179904/" rel="imdb" title="Paranormal Activity">Paranormal Activity film</a> we were subjected to last - The Visit works at the top of the form. Less gimmicky than most, the POV nature of this film is actually used to develop the story and immerse the viewer in the main characters' perception, something a lot of the more recent found footage films have abandoned for slight-of-hand optical tricks and repeated jump scares. In short: it was fun, and I enjoyed it.<br />
<br />
Not that I didn't have issues with the film. The Title, for starters. M. Night has never excelled at naming his films, seemingly opting for the plainly descriptive titles that actively describe the main plot or location - the worst of these being The Happening, which might as well have been called Vague Plot Description, and the best of these being Signs, which actually manages enough of a double meaning within the film to pass as clever. The Visit has that same problem, and at one point during the film I found myself wondering he didn't call the film Sundown, which for reasons evident upon viewing would have made a much better title. To his credit (and mine), I discovered later that the working title of the film was originally Sundowning, so it's probably safe to assume that the title change was a corporate marketing decision, so I'm ultimately neutral on that point.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsth75tUUzFO9Ool0cxW46jbRD8uot8bzRr0jfYgkxCqfSbp9L" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for the visit 2015" border="0" class="rg_i" data-src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsth75tUUzFO9Ool0cxW46jbRD8uot8bzRr0jfYgkxCqfSbp9L" data-sz="f" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="LeeiiJcOgM6ZrM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsth75tUUzFO9Ool0cxW46jbRD8uot8bzRr0jfYgkxCqfSbp9L" style="height: 168px; margin-top: 0px; width: 300px;" /></a>Then there's the location. Yeah, I get it. You really like Pennsylvania. Enough already. The specific location itself doesn't actually have any bearing on the story, but just being actively aware that I'm being subjected to something for no other reason than the filmmaker's personal obsession makes this irritating to me. It's like watching a Tarantino film. Okay Quentin, you have a severe foot fetish. Very Nice. Back to the film now, please.<br />
<br />
And on a personal level, I always hate it when a filmmaker introduces a filmmaker as a main character. There's something a bit myopic and narcissistic about this setup, as it always feels like the filmmaker is begging for understand. M. Night was guilty of this to such a major degree with Lady in the Water - introducing an evil critic character who admits to giving negative reviews out of spite and then killing him, an obvious reference to his own negative reviews - that I still feel he needs to stay as far away from this type of setup as possible. It didn't have a negative impact on the film itself, but it still left a bad taste. <br />
<br />
So altogether, most of my issues with The Visit were minor and cosmetic. Much of the other negative criticism I've seen that isn't Shyamalan-centric is mostly nitpicking about stuff that shouldn't need a back story explanation ("Where did they get the tripods?" I'm guessing they packed them with the cameras...), and much of them aren't worth discussing. The one I feel needs some attention is one that I had issues with initially while watching the film, the dialogue spoken by the main characters, Becca and Tyler. Throughout the film, the older sister Becca is overly erudite in her speech patterns, while younger brother Tyler is incessantly uses slang ("Swerve.") and gives impromptu rap numbers more often than anybody is probably comfortable with. And yes, after an hour of this even I'm thinking that the girl is using way too many fifty-cent words and hip-hop lad needs to tone it down a bit. Most people complaining about this are resorting to the overall argument that the dialogue for the kids is "not real" or sounds "phony and unnatural." And at first I was probably in agreement.<br />
<br />
But M. Night doesn't make normal films, and in the case of this story, these are NOT normal kids. It is explained very early in the film that the father literally picked up and left one day, severing all contact with his wife and children, and that at least two of them (the mother and Tyler) sought out therapy to cope with severe abandonment issues. In a film that involves a subtext of people playing parts - hinted to by a couple of random characters in the first act who begin reciting Shakespeare as soon as the camera is pointed in their direction - we are dealing with two children who are coping with abandonment issues by constructing personalities around their true selves, something that most children do at one point or another without a severe psychological trauma to trigger feelings of inadequacy. So in this situation, yes, we are watching two children who are not necessarily acting "naturally," whatever that is. Becca purposely attempts to act and sound important and intelligent, and Tyler seeks out attention through popular cultural signals and actions. So, in my opinion, this is more a creative decision than it is the poor screenwriting that many have labeled it as, like it or not. <br />
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxQSEhUUExQWFhQXFxcYFxUUFxwUFRQXFBcXFxcVFBUYHCggGBolHBQUIjEhJSkrLi4uFx8zODMsNygtLisBCgoKDg0OFA8QFCwcFBwsKywsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCwsLCssLCwsLCssLCwsLCssLDcrNys3LCwsNywsK//AABEIAKgBLAMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAABBQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAADAQIEBQYABwj/xABGEAABAwEFBAUHCgQGAgMAAAABAAIRAwQFEiExQVFhkQYTInHRMlKBkqGxwRQVI0JDU2KT4fAWM2OiB1RygtLxssJz0+L/xAAXAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQID/8QAHREBAQEBAAMAAwAAAAAAAAAAABEBEgIhMUFRYf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A8upuzUxrlGYEemtxg4bUlEozT3ckNwzSIkMfuCO1xhQQ9Ha8pET214Cn0nEgGdypqT/erahsQWtKpI3KzuGr9M3/AFD4qlYYVnch+kB/E32rOrida3/SPH4nZ+kqyuzpD1DcAYDtOeqo7bVHWPz+u7L0oGMA6qK2H8Z/0/b+iQdOP6X936LG1LSAhm0NKDeUumm+n/d+ic/pt/SPrfosTRo1HCWseRvDSVMbYK2GeqfA4fDVBsWdLwfs/wC79E5vSz+n/csLTqxkcncRmPQrOhgNNzuup4xHZOe3TPKSP2VK1l1e3jerq0Q3COJgcyrSjfDgAOrGQA8pZey3gwSC8AOGHEH4cGsHA/I98QUW9Lu6+mKdO1dsEPpPyEgZODi3IjPdkYUrXLSm/HD7LkZjvyQH9KY+zz4lULLLaWVAQ2jkADWqYy97cgcogGSdu7JFqsJhrRSfT+s8Ow1G78pg9ytTcXJ6UD7v2oX8U/0/aqC87OaQmZbsOUidhVdTtXHmqxtxs29JZ+z9v6JlbpKTkGe1ZgVxvXCuNZQp9srYnEjaoLaU0HZfX136I9Su1MLSaGWhefggpHvhV9t4fvuVhWbqo1cZK4jP1TDkCo7OIUi2Ohx7lHL+7ktoHTMLqtbLJI9/dyQ1QoMjRI3TNFZps5Ibz+4Uio9d6DCO8JmBQSG0tFJbSUdk7kcOO4qgjGe9NNHPmhYnbk5tVw2ICGzo9OzyVFNoduTm2p06FQT7NZ5JG2VcUbLAGazNO1vbOSOL1fGhQaVlPMLQXdYwACTnIPdC86+d6kzBUihfVUHU81IPUmXZScZLQSTJ4orbmoE/ymwvMxflfeeaI2/K+93MpBvrxu6y0sIdTbif5Ld8e4LPvtraOJ3VNpuDsLXBstJiYkdr4ZLL268K74JxGNDmY4dyhNv18kF2Z8o/Wy471nc108Y9KuzpIK4cXWepRwAS5zhhcNrmuyJCt7svxmTA1407bnY255jPMn0wvMrL0icGhvWPIkwXOxFs7sUqTS6SmmHQ8gukOLQO0dpc1wI5arM1prekVuqGhUNWi0jMMq04MNOjjInLhqslZb7LGw1zsYH81xGZP4dw3a6qpt/SGvUZhNQ4T9UENEaaDZwVCKrmaOW88KzY3lovHrGdt1N7miHl7HBrgQYFMQQHa9o5mMohQbv6SGoBTeTRLCHNcC8tMfUOHMA5RAVJdfW1g7DhOGCWl2Eu7pyMfFExhrofTcDB7Ljh5b/anK1tbX0ma5zQ2vUY8gCG02uYXCe1Jzc3ycsipFOyPP0trtgNE/dtFIuGoxuzdugDPisFjYBlEztzdzH6KPa70eQBjJEQBMx4aTCclbG+qlOq9nyas4dWMqdQvqNMkAEF0lpz/wChJXoVG46MCabJgTGkxmvELmLHVB19UsYDPZGIkjmvSq95PptBs7xXYGicRBOgk4gcvSm+klan5moj7Nqabpox5DeSxlkv11pBinVpObMvDvoxHEkTroFCvC316cfTNfOYwPMkby07ErO5G4rXTRIg02oVaxgNwAAN1y3rz831XnV3MpG31W24uZVjNXV4WSMlUWyQO5Q6971Z01UWreDzqEgh2jM7kPAF1Ws5w8lA7W5UFFPXvSOo6IbXEbE/rDuKqH9WmCnkmFzidE5jXbkA6lHNBdTUh7XToUMsduKiralYijiwlXbLuPn/ANrfBEF3OH2n9o8FFZ/5Cdyf8gV6bvd5/JoXfN5mMZ9UeCUjPGwpW2DgtI27D957AlN1ujy/7QlIzRsJjND+SQtJ83unN/8AaEx13EHN49UJSKQWHci0btz0V3Qu8+ePVCMyxkfX/tCUir+TMYO3kBPsU2yXxZmNBDANId5TyZz7OwRxVV0kJbUaCcTS3dkTOmW3RUVe0tGbiQ48o2ZbFNzdb8Y3lv6Y0DTLQwvygio0Bp4lVlC0trNAfZmgQYdgLg1sTnuEbZWPN4NBJIBMQJOmu7vT3X8XQTDSBGUyYgZn0Kcatwt6XXgMgYWnSDiH771DsVrdRMgNcJzDgHcp0KLWvkmcpJ9CuOinR813CrVaRT1aPPI2n8PvW7M9s/d9Asuurb6x+TtDmCJeeyxkjRx2Eblqbr/wza5pNV5B3hwiN4AHxVyQyi4Fz2tp5HqQwFh4w3bkILsgc1PsfTOg1ppwKJb5OMtd1kNGTznE6Rrroue+W78azxz8g2b/AAwsobDS4VPPxZt4xEexQrR0RoFtRlK0uqGnHWMzqEFw2l0icpy0VrS/xCoupfSu6t7QZY0SDl9XMjmvOKXSOlZzWdZ8eKqSS+ocwDOUScR4k6J702Ke/rtZRJayoSRq07juMZ7FSlT694vqmD2u/UaqddVio4h1zg1vEYoykTG3Rdc2Z7Y3L8UWMqTdwquqNFLEHkwCJGuWo71vjddOWmmabDHl9Q0u74gifQp9W/X0GgAGrlqQMQI0gDv3bVN8/wCLnjn7UVuqXpRYZqh7WgYhTguAI0LSwHlKpLBelSrUZTJM4oAiCDv5a9y0tbpu9xDBTwec4nA+dhBEZehQbDeBp2lp6tlSo8DrcgDLtzjoR7Qs394q8FkQallJyWnrGgGiMnEZNaZkxpKp7AetbixkZuEDC4AtOkxqmazyqqlh3jMbkj7LI0V1Vsp888m+CjiyGf5juQ8FUin+bkx93rQNu93nu5N8EGpd7vPd6rUooDdqYLCVpG3Y6BNR3qt8E111n7x3JvglFHTsKP8ANytW3cfvHcm+CK27zse72eCUUTruQHWBaR93Hz3ch4ITrr/G7kPBKJtOyHuR/kLjtHoCi0+kLfua3qDxRv4hZ9zW9T9VlRDYTvTqdkOfaB9CjOv1p+yreoPFOF+t+6rep+qCW2xnglqWM8EBt/U9errep+qI/pLT+6rfllIBOsZzzHJC+RnUkckytfrCP5db8sqG+/m6BlT0sj2lWFTxZuITajmsiXakAQCczvQ31CGhzsg46bgo9S8m4gwwARl3qxKHfF8YGllJwFTUk/VBGRHFYe02V5+kqEu/G+XabJPuVhf1KuysXlhNPTs6xxG/VV9W1OqkNDuxB2TE7x+9U9tZIdTupxEuGHPdJ5IdW4njP4K3srXODWtGJwBGWro2+/LgrmwXHUJDnvc0YYLRE58Rlop1q7mMI+wkEBw1Iz4bcvatew1qjS2niLDGZ7OQ74Wko3RSbowE5ZuEmRtk6KU2lCu+/qZs+MhUsFqLcOGdRilhdGcNxEzh0y0UKp0dtRiWN78bdy3tLPZls48UlUaD99ynwrBfwlWJ7T6bR3ucY5KSzoVT+vWc7g0Bnvla9zP36dFHtLcInkN52LVZVLOj1nAEUxkImTJ4kzmi0rtpMILabZG2JPM5qxaNJyJzj3pQxQRHtzQagVi6mgVKCDFdKiQ9mFsyDEAkgtIzEKDc9tDahdVcZJmS0PM8cS9AsjQ189WXmCGxEicspylFtVzU6zHMdSHWEHtOYA9pjI48Iz0Tr8NZiio3lQeQBUqU3TONsQOG/lvUh16AvA6x+NhGRyFQalxJyOuuRVFTuV1JzqdTsvM4cbey+BkWOaTrny9Cm2K43029dWOFrQS1mrpIjM/BTMXdbcNnMOBHDRL1UnUKuuc46Y7JHHcnm3Cm7CcR7hn+q1GFzRsk7QE993dyrqd8t8yr6iN/ELQPIqHvYsiV8ijcmussbQq93SUbab/UQat/g/Uf6qgszZI3J9OyydQqQ9IP6dT1f1UqnfH9Kryb/wAlRamwbigOsaiOvz+nVHob/wAkhv8A/pv5DxUGdp1DxReuIVeNM+Ux8EZjHEf/AKVEhtrBMA+1GLzsVa+znWPepVJpGwqg5c7elNQ8UFwPH2obp48/0QH62RzVVeFsLCDuUylTInZ6VR31ntTEaaw2mnaKWFxJd3xHcFlukNmq03bSBodoVFRtz6LpEwtRYr7ZahgqaAaaEneTuG5bAbp6XlkMrjG0ZSPLHitBTsdjtedMsLiNPIqD0arO3lcQObNPaqGpQcw7ctuhQb2w9GzQr03te/CCZa4yDiBHxC1rWry25ekddtSmw1C5pewFr+1kXAZTntXqzc1nVKKSSrSEEHKQQpTGozWLAp/khzIc4TuHftfulMrWAv1L+bW65bBkpzaj9cBdImARIBLjJ9ghSqbCWk4SDJ7O0xpz+KqqZthdnrnvfpskdnIp1WyEkEgZZjtHXfp+5KtazXBgIaAZEtJ0k55jXgmVqNUgw1oy3yRlsyjWddyCo+bRl2RlGrnbI4cAmus0QA3Kdh01MmVc2ig7LD6SddMkEUn4u0ABGwznuiAqitNFc+hkrI0uCYaWSDMX9azZ6RqNALgRE7JMSs1T6X1HHtYWuP1hlHvWr6Y2WbHV4AHL8LgfgvKw2dBzVzM1a3VivinXOO0kBlLNrnEy525u1xy9yjPvAWqt9DTIYDr9Z/F2aytCyy4B2h09GxaOy32ygyGDtcB7pVzIm7W9slrZTp4TkY0OqqHWgPdlsWNfeNS0PGIxByWlu1gAAlNRONQ71Gq1ipfVjehusywI7STHxSvJThZt0pXWcbygGHFHY870ynZ89UdtIIA1aiiurFT30UDq4QV7LfZ/vqXrN8VIZelAfbUvXbHvQm3RQj+TR/Lb4I7Lns/3FH8pvgikF50Nten64/5JH3lQP21P8weKMLms/wDl6Mf/ABN8Ejrns/8Al6X5bPBUCbeFH76n648U/wCXUPvaU/6m++V3zRZv8vS/Lb4JPmWz/cUfy2+CBKtvox/Np+uPdKpLc+kSYqsP+4eKvjctm/y9L8tvgo1W5KGyhS/Lb4IMfa6TPOb6wVe9gaZDh6CtfaLmpbKVOP8ASJ9yhPumnoKbfVHgtVFdYr+ezJxkb1bC8qVUZx3qvq3U3zQPQPBQql3lpyEexUXFhu3FVpuGheyBtjENeK9ceMIJjQfBeRdE3vNroMOYNRvIZ/Be0tZOxZ8lQRbQBmDlM8AMWZ49nTiEatbQzDIccWmFpOzRSKjAeyeDtuzaTpqESlTa4zqWkic8iRB4FZDWVtOw/P8ADEaePsKJQLjilsRoNCTGLPmB6Cj0KjTIDgSNY2Zke8Hkm0rdTcJxjUj1TByRQy14YCWYnSMgRv8ALk6ZZwmvqvMtayH4cWbgQBMZxvgx6dysrJUDxI2EjkYn0wnWZ7agls+kFp5HP/tBV1HuaBNPUtGbm6uMenemW8FuHC0OkxrBkxEZbpPoU9lqDjHVvOHOcMhpjdqDDt21Fr1Q0kFrjAkQ0mTnkDvj3oKjqHlploa6Ms8QmMs43qMbNUBmGkZDytABmRlmZPDRXHXFxbDHBpmS4FpG4RG3v2dyI+kgy1/2TFZ6w1mm/wD8SV4p8raNIX0JarOCHN3gjmIXgtC7dhaMstFrxRENYOiXARpnvUikKe17eYVnQuxs5tbyCmNutkeQz1R4LVRAsVaiPtGD/cFc2W9KA1q0/XHimULsYPqMzO1rfiFLpWCmPs2eq0/BZ0GF+WYfb0/XHiuN/Wecq1L1x4ozLHR+7p+o3wTxYaJ+ypn/AGN8FBEF92aP59L1wmm+bP8Af0vXCnOs1MR9Ewf7G+CcbHS+7Z6rfBBXNvmzD7en64Tvn+zD7an6wU19kp+Yz1R4Joo0/Mb6o8EEP+IrN98z1kB1/Wf75nNWhpU/Nb6oQ3UWeY31R4KB9KojCvG9V9Opx/fNHaePwRUw1/3r8U11UqOJ2IbyZ2qiSHIgqQoGE65pSTGqCa6tOiD1hMhBeTG3RBa0gnNAWozLOEL5KNYCcQURtORqgi1LJqoj7DKtizLVJ1YjVWkd0MusfKg8jyGuPpPZHvK9HprK9F6eFr3bXGPQ39SVohWgZCTsHjuU0OApvxOdOYALXZZA5egnjGakUajQcDZ26AkDYZOzYq5tmGUsLjhAJc6NCDoMhoNuwKdZGOBHkgRBzJO3bvkoJGKnTBJLWxroIyxH2ZqRZLRTd2WkTGg4Ej3g8iolapRaQ18Se0JE7WieEnCn07bRpk5QRrDTnmRsG8O9AJRU0W1g2zwAJOsabvEb0WramtIaT2nRA2me/LYeSbhYGyGjIAgNGsHENOKG63NwteW6mNCTHaAIynec41UDnWhlNzgezJmdhJEz39l3q9ydZ7W15cGzlGZyBkTltIzGaj/OLCZDHukNmGyRJIGXpcctkqVRrYmgwRIBg6iRMFBBNvBmWuABIBgmcOpgaDcm07UHHDDge1qIHZdh26zMiNinvcotRyCPVbmvKbwu8NqvG57/APyK9TrVFh76ofTPO8zzAKqaoGUI9KcDpyGam9QZzjlCYaOZGzclDTxPIpcAnVdh4ZJwbwRDWtA2ojH8UgbwT6YQLj4ppdxTnHghBA51QJmW9OjgkhAwkJuPiiuahn95oA0qp3eyEX5Q4bVjB0hq7m8j4px6R1dzD6D4q8q2QtpGZJ5BKLUdZ9yxJv8Aqbmcj4p38RVdzOR8Ug2fyjLUnjknOqcecLDjpDV3N5fqnHpJV3N5HxSDai1cT7F3WZ5/ALFnpFU81nI+K7+Jau5vt8Ug2Rqxu5onWcFiv4nq+a32+KeOk9TzW+3xSaNgHkodcu/f/ayrOk9XzW8j4p/8T1T9Vnt8Ug2Fj6UU6TQxzKhjUtAIJ1nVWFLplQ29YO9k+4rAN6RP8ynyPii076rOEikwjg3uG/8AE3mrB6NS6ZWU/XcO+m/wUyh0vsv3wHe1w97V5lTvOuT/ACWZAHMRk4wDmd6Vt6ViJ6mnAEk7hEzqkHq7ekVjJnr6U7yYOXepVC/rJstFCd+NoO3jxPNeRG8qwmaDN3snemPvqoImhTE6egBx27iCpyPaxflmiOvoxu6xnijC+rPH8+j+YzxXh5vitijqGSdmEzqBv3kc0rr7rR/IZH+k+Kcj2355s+vX0fzGeKC7pBZvv6XrtPxXi3z3WAnqWRvg8eP4XcinNv8Argx1NOTvEbhtPEJyPYavSWzD7ZnoM+4KttPS2zDSoSeDHn/1XmZvy06dSydIy1EyPK/C7kmNv2069UyMvbp9ZOR6BV6V0CQAXmf6bviFDttdrziE5ga5aLCVek1ZroLGAjZG/Pf3IVXpXW0ws9vinI2rn5TpwlMdUEZLFfxPW3N9vih1uk1U/VZlunxTkbUPB2ZR6F2MDYFim9J6vms5HxXO6TVfNZyPinOo24qhN64jQe1YodKavms5HxSHpNV81nt8U5G0bVJOYHNOlYpnSaqPqs5JXdJau5nI+Kc6NmHhPNRYUdJav4eR8Up6TVtzOR8U50bR9b9yo7q54c1kXdJau5nI+KYekVX8PI+KcimDl2JMCVaU7EkldK6VQoKQrpSYkCykJSyuxIEBRGuQgU7EgIHJwehBKgLjT21SNCeaFSpOc4Na0ucTAa0SSdwA1Kkvu6s2oKRo1RVOlI03CodTkyMWw7EDW1jvPPclNY7zz/e880KvQfTcWPY5jxq14LXDgWnMJhKCT1x3nn6PcpXUTR63rPrYcEOPaiYnTyRM+hRrVYK1NrXVKVVjHeS57HMa7b2XEQ70IXyh2HBJw4sWHZiiJ5ILK7LG+tih2bTTGZ+8fhkGdmqC1pNUU8Wr8E5xm7DMbkK7uucSyiHknC4hgn+WZa45ZAEjPim2gVaVU9YHsqtdJDhhe13lAkEZHMH0oJF4NNN5YX4o112ifioxrneeZQ7RaXPMvJJ495OziTzRX3fVbTFV1KqKToioWOFN06YXkQeaBvXHeeZ/e0pOtO88z3ICk2Ow1auLqqT6mGC7q2l+EOyBdhGQkIBGoUNz1MtV0Wmm0vqUKzGtjE59NzA3EQBJcMpJCgFyB8ppSArsSBwKQlNxJJQPBSgoScCgLiXFyHKVA6U0uXFDJQPlJKYklQhoclDkIFOCmNCSllDBSyqh65MlLKpDlxTZXSiFTgUxKED5XSmrkDiV6laLtFZlC+SQWss4fWnV1rswFOnPFzhTcf8ASV5XKs29IK4shsYd9AagqlsZ4hx83bG9QQTVkkkkkkkk5kk5kk70mNDSgqjY9LbNgsF1O30K391Zz/8A2WRxK/v3pnaLXRZQqtoCnTjB1dIMcyNjSNAdoWdlQa3ok6iKFpba2VBZaxpU3WimAepqU3F7JB1aZzHAblG6cXLUsdpFOpVFUOp03U6oyx0sIbTkbCGtA9CB0d6V1rGypTY2lUpVSC+nWpio0uboYOhUK/b6rWyqa1dwc8gNEDC1rW6NY3YBuQQi5ay9rNFzWF++02r+4U//AKyseVorf00tFaytsjm0OpaBhDaIa5pEdprtjjGZ2oKAuRKdd2F1IEhtQsxDzi0nDPcXHmo8qVdlvdQqtqtaxzmGQKjQ9hPFp1VGq/xQDqN42hgJAqU6GIbHBtOmQD3OpgrGyrnpR0qr3g5r7QKWNuWKnTDC4ZZOI8qIyVLKmDsS6UkpCUDpSFyauVDgUuJMXJQ/ElxocrpSh5cmymkppKlDi5ISmymkqVpyUFKuWcCgpZSLloLKUJFyoVdK5cgWUq5ciOldKVchHJEq5UdK6Uq5AkpZXLkHSuXLkIbKSVy5QjglSrkCEpJSrlSElJK5coOJSSuXIOXSuXIR0pJSLlCOlJKVcopspFy5Qf/Z" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for the visit 2015" border="0" class="rg_i" data-sz="f" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="HO2SLonB56jhqM:" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="height: 168px; margin-top: 0px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<br />
As someone who recommended I see the film said to me, if you aren't expecting something completely original and groundbreaking, you're going to enjoy yourself. I wasn't, and I did, much more so than many of this year's horror film offerings. <br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style-blog/wp/2015/09/14/shamalan/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/362251816_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style-blog/wp/2015/09/14/shamalan/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">M. Night Shyamalan loves a good movie twist. Here's how 'The Visit' stacks up.</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.fastcocreate.com/3050972/m-night-shyamalan-jason-blum-and-the-creativity-of-limitations" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/362211947_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.fastcocreate.com/3050972/m-night-shyamalan-jason-blum-and-the-creativity-of-limitations" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">M. Night Shyamalan, Jason Blum, and The Creativity of Limitations</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/09/12/box-office-m-night-shyamalans-the-visit-scares-up-9-2m-friday/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/362009596_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/09/12/box-office-m-night-shyamalans-the-visit-scares-up-9-2m-friday/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Box Office: M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Visit' Scares Up $9.2M Friday</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://geektyrant.com/news/honest-trailer-for-m-night-shyamalans-the-happening" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/361365542_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://geektyrant.com/news/honest-trailer-for-m-night-shyamalans-the-happening" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Honest Trailer For M. Night Shyamalan's THE HAPPENING</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://variety.com/2015/film/box-office/box-office-perfect-guy-elbows-ahead-of-the-visit-with-26-7-million-1201592458/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/362101398_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://variety.com/2015/film/box-office/box-office-perfect-guy-elbows-ahead-of-the-visit-with-26-7-million-1201592458/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Box Office: 'Perfect Guy' Elbows Ahead of 'The Visit' With $26.7 Million</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.contactmusic.com/joaquin-phoenix/news/joaquin-phoenix-re-teaming-with-m-night-shyamalan-for-new-thriller_4887361" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/359458800_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.contactmusic.com/joaquin-phoenix/news/joaquin-phoenix-re-teaming-with-m-night-shyamalan-for-new-thriller_4887361" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Joaquin Phoenix Re-teaming With M. Night Shyamalan For New Thriller</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-65764765555256970172015-07-17T22:50:00.002-04:002015-07-17T23:00:51.827-04:00Now Boarding Zone Four<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTupyZ04-NUbI3XbucAPPa7WpoSJH0AQZhqUBWdNy9ieE0wenRUBzudQlh7aN5sNO79Pd5GREX8rLRgQIZmz3KwLiRP64mH5If7wuAEAl0sBFOznT_NEceu2EUsV-NZFA4bC96gPLw8xG/s1600/IMG_20141022_121443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTupyZ04-NUbI3XbucAPPa7WpoSJH0AQZhqUBWdNy9ieE0wenRUBzudQlh7aN5sNO79Pd5GREX8rLRgQIZmz3KwLiRP64mH5If7wuAEAl0sBFOznT_NEceu2EUsV-NZFA4bC96gPLw8xG/s320/IMG_20141022_121443.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'm sitting in a hotel room on a Friday night in Florida, the torrential downpour that my flight beat by three hours rattling against the metal of the suicide-proof windows and defeating my hopes of trying out the outdoor pool after hours. The current forecast is for thunderstorms until just after I leave Monday morning. The lobby has free popcorn, however, so I have that going for me.<br />
<br />
The hotel is in a 55-and-over gated community built around golf courses and on top of numerous historical lies involving the civil war. This senior citizen wasteland is notorious for acts of public debauchery - such as golf-cart quickies and Viagra parties - and the real-estate mogul who created this miniature elderly Disneyland is supposedly under investigation for tax evasion. My GPS dragged me through a cul-de-sac labyrinth of manicured lawns and sun porches for fifteen minutes to get to the hotel, during which speed-demon golf-cart racers nearly clipped the rental car twice, and a cliche elderly woman - complete with head below the steering wheel - mounted the curb trying to turn into a parking lot and diverted traffic through a shopping plaza complete with golf pro outlet and hearing aide repair. Exactly what I need after eight hours of air travel and an hour-long introduction to the Florida Expressway.<br />
<br />
(While writing the above paragraph, I Googled cul-de-sac to see if it required hyphens, and discovered that there was a serial killer of Nigerian descent dubbed the "cul-de-sac killer" due to his penchant for killing elderly people on quiet suburban streets. It reminded me of the poet I bumped heads with at the hippie school where I got my BFA, who argued that there were no documented cases of black serial killers, and that serial murder was solely a white male enterprise. My argument was that criminal justice may still be influenced by institutionalized racism, but murder has always been equal opportunity. Which proves not only that I was right about the serial killer thing, but that there is an undeniable futility in debating crime statistics with somebody who writes poems about whales.)<br />
<br />
Whenever I fly to southern states, the racial disparity never fails to shock me. Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, you name it. The vast majority of travelers are white, but the workers of shit jobs at the airports are always black. I have yet to purchase a bottle of water or a breakfast sandwich from a white person. In Charlotte, while legging it to my connecting flight, I passed a shoeshine bench with three seats. I didn't even think shoeshine stations existed anymore, but there it was, like some ghostly remnant of the depression era haunting a modern airport to remind us that there's still a class structure to be maintained so we can pay people shit wages to do personal chores we're too good to do for ourselves. All three chairs were filled by white men in their twenties or thirties, no suits or briefcases. I think one of them was wearing work boots. The three young women working on their shoes/boots/whatever were all black. There's a racial divide in that image that this country is still doing its best to pretend doesn't exist. <br />
<br />
Speaking of racial inequality, the Charlotte airport is the first airport I've been in with a bathroom attendant, complete with tip jar and tray of meats. Another antiquated career path. The cigarette girls must have been on break when I walked through the terminal. I'm half expecting there to be an elevator operator at the hotel, bellboy cap tipped jauntily to one side. Of course, the bathroom attendant is black as well. As I'm waiting for a stall to open, he nods at me and says, "You look like The Dude." I beg your pardon? "The Dude, from Big Lebowski. You look just like him." I'm thinking that I bear a closer resemblance to Walter than Jeff Bridges' titular character, but don't bother attempting to correct him or seek clarification. He hands me some paper towels after I wash my hands, and I take the time to slip a couple of singles into his jar. I don't take a mint. <br />
<br />
There was a guy with his teenage daughter in the Allentown airport waiting for the same flight. They sat opposite me. Her slumped in the airport bench seat wearing a pair of daisy duke shorts and a midriff, tanned legs splayed wide open as she plays on her tablet or kindle or nook or whatever. Him striking up conversations with random strangers about where they're going or how they got to the airport. Me trying my best to pretend I don't notice either of them, reading a nineties horror novel that I just two chapters ago realized I've already read. The gate keeper is halfway through calling groups to board the plane when the father decides it's my turn to converse with.<br />
<br />
"What group did they just call?" I'm not sure, probably zone two or three, I didn't catch it. "Man, I remember when they just used to say 'the plane is here, get on.' How many different groups are there?" I don't tell him he's right. Between the four boarding "Zones" and all of the different Priority, Premier, Advantage, Gold, and other special classifications, it feels like it would take just as long for them to call us each by name. After all, what fun would it be overpaying for glorified public transit without assigning enough arbitrary class distinctions to help remind us that some people are just better than others. I guess First Class and Coach wasn't enough, or maybe they're just bitter over not being able to call it Second or Third Class anymore because that was a bit too blatant. The funniest part is when they call for the Gold or Advantage Members to board using the "Premiere Ramp," but it's the same ten-foot stretch of carpet that everybody else crosses over to board the plane as well. Calling it different just adds to the special feeling, I guess. The funny becomes sad when they actually have a separate red carpet for the Special ones, and after they've boarded the gate keeper will block it off so the lesser passengers don't use the same carpet. My distastefor an d bewilderment at this practice is not bitterness because I'm usually in Zone Four.<br />
<br />
I don't tell the man that I agree with him, but he decides that a conversation has still started. "What seat are you in?" I answer without thinking, reflex more than anything. Not that it's any of his business. It isn't exactly privileged information, either. I could have lied to him, but to what end? So I could snicker at him when he passed me in my assigned seat later and realized that he had been duped? Anyway, I tell him my seat number. He shakes his head in response. "We bought our tickets yesterday, and we couldn't get seats next to each other." He's trying to find out if I'll be sitting next to his daughter. He should probably be more concerned about who she is sitting across from.<br />
<br />
Last year a kid ended up sitting next to me, separated from his parents on the other side of the aisle. The kid was about nine or ten, I think, and they didn't bother introducing themselves to me or anything before abandoning him between me and the window for a three-hour flight. It seemed weird for them not to try and size up the large man who would be obscuring any visibility of their child for the entire flight. I remember him turning to me during takeoff and saying that this was the best part of flying, and me responding that this was actually the most terrifying part of flying, because takeoffs and landings are usually when something goes wrong. I wasn't trying to scare the kid, and he didn't react to what I said, but there's a part of me that hopes that our conversation resulted in some delayed night terrors that would convince his parents to shake hands with the next stranger they stick him next to on a plane.<br />
<br />
My impulse is to be annoyed by the father as he continues to talk about his delayed travel arrangements, but who am I to begrudge him the polite familiarity that I've complained that public places seem to lack these days. I've often wondered why nobody talks to the other people standing around them waiting to board when there's a good chance that they will be sitting with one another for the next few hours, sharing drinks and armrests in the most communal activity they will participate in outside of shopping on Black Friday. We should all be asking each other for seat numbers while the airline whittles us into manageable caste system so they know who to give the free pretzels to first.<br />
<br />
Still raining. The lady at the front desk said they put free cookies out in the evening. I wonder of there are any left.AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-70448759144656128112015-05-18T22:09:00.000-04:002015-05-18T22:09:11.976-04:00I'm Not White<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Argument_Clinic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="The Argument Sketch" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="273" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/85/Argument_Clinic.png/350px-Argument_Clinic.png" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">The Argument Sketch (Photo credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Argument_Clinic.png">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Over the past couple of years, I've found myself at odds with a growing portion of people on the left as well as the right. Ironically, most (if not all) of the people on the left who have taken exception to my comments or <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument" rel="wikipedia" title="Argument">arguments</a> hold very similar (if not identical) views regarding topics such as civil liberties and social justice. This has placed me in the unenviable position of being vilified by both liberal and conservative crusaders when discussing things like the whole Ferguson debacle, resulting in me being simultaneously labelled as a racist and a cop-hater in the same day. No small feat, I imagine.<br />
<br />
I'm willing to take the blame on this, mind you, but only as far as acknowledging that I know why I get this kind of reaction. The truth is that I have gone through some major evolution throughout my life when it comes to philosophical ideals and world views, having run the gamut from <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing_politics" rel="wikipedia" title="Right-wing politics">right-wing</a> conservative to <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing_politics" rel="wikipedia" title="Left-wing politics">left-wing</a> hippie. I now feel that I have landed comfortably somewhere in the middle, that "middle" dictated by a conscious effort to remain neutral or average, but merely based on where other groups or parties tend to fall in comparison. Okay, to be fair, I'm probably a bit more left from center, but you get the idea.<br />
<br />
One thing that I have gained from this rather full-rounded personal journey is an appreciation for how membership to a group or idealistic movement can influence beliefs rather than the other way around, and so I make it a point to be somewhat skeptical of rationalizations and arguments regardless of where they come from or whether or not my instinctive reaction is to agree or disagree. A healthy dose of skepticism is more than necessary to get to the truth behind anything, including our own motivations. So occasionally I will question or disagree with some major (or even minor) point or argument put forth by someone, and since this is taken as a personal challenge of somebody's deep-seated ideological beliefs, I find myself attacked for being "insensitive" or "antagonizing."<br />
<br />
Just so we're clear, I am not implying that I am not capable of the same knee-jerk reactions when my own beliefs are challenged, nor am I under the assumption that my way of thinking is the only correct one. This isn't about claiming that I am right and everybody else is wrong, even if that is how most belief systems tend to work. What we're talking about is the actual public discourse of debating or discussing how certain views or beliefs are being supported. You can believe in the right thing for the wrong reasons, and you can also question your behavior or understanding without decimating everything you believe in. Skepticism, if healthy and honest, is applied to not only to others, but to oneself. Which is, of course, where it all falls apart.<br />
<br />
I personally think that one of the biggest mistakes being made by many of these civil rights and social justice movements is that they try to rectify the problem of people being dismissed or demeaned for participation in certain groups by defending the status and feasibility of the perceived groups. For me, the logical way to combat prejudice towards groups is to remove the focus on groups and place it on the individual, instead of lending credibility to the idea that membership in perceived groups should be the way we identify people, as collections of specific traits rather than individuals. The true fight, after all, is not to create equal groups, but to ensure that people are treated equal despite of any perceived group they actively or involuntarily belong to.<br />
<br />
Let me take a moment to explain why I keep saying "perceived groups." My intent is not to question the credibility of any specific group, but merely to acknowledge that some groups seeking equality are more rigidly defined than others. In fact, sometimes I have found such lines drawn by groups with the direct intent to prevent other groups from sharing the victim spotlight, as it were. I've had it explained to me, for example, that you cannot compare the plight of "genetic" groups claiming prejudice to "non-genetic" groups complaining of the same, because the "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics" rel="wikipedia" title="Genetics">genetically</a> oppressed" cannot change their stripes, as it were. I reject this argument on the grounds that it assumes that people who belong to "non-genetic" groups are either not capable of experiencing prejudicial treatment to the same degree (or even worse), or are somehow more deserving of such treatment because they are technically capable of somehow avoiding that treatment. I find this argument detestable on several levels, including the fact that it implies the problem is whether you can avoid being mistreated, rather than arguing that nobody deserves such mistreatment in the first place.<br />
<br />
So this is where I tend to piss people off despite our shared beliefs. Like the problems I mentioned having during the whole Ferguson thing; we would be in total agreement that there is clear evidence of institutionalized racism in the Ferguson police (and others) that needs to be addressed, and that the specific example of Michael Brown's shooting left way too many questions about how <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people" rel="wikipedia" title="Black people">black people</a> were being treated by the local police and how much cover-up took place directly after the shooting and throughout the trial of the cop that shot him. But then I would raise a polite objection when people said things like "It's hard to talk to <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_people" rel="wikipedia" title="White people">white people</a> about this," point out that it is an arguably <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prejudice" rel="wikipedia" title="Prejudice">prejudiced</a> thing to say that does nothing but ignore the multitude of white people in agreement with their position on the Ferguson debacle, and POOF, now I'm the asshole.<br />
<br />
And I'm not blind to where some of this reaction comes from. There are people out there who defend racist actions and attempt to deflect any attention to them by pushing the "Cops shoot white people too" argument, which ignores the specifics of the situations at hand by painting a broad enough picture to obscure any realities beyond racial identities. It's an underhanded trick using semantics, but it's good enough that people on the other side of the argument use it as well, so that anybody who does offer alternate viewpoints can be accused of not being the right color to have an opinion, or that they're blinded by "white privilege," which while is arguably a real thing, doesn't help further awareness of the direct problems of prejudice involved, especially when used as a blanket excuse to ignore or devalue the thoughts and opinions of an entire segment of society. See how that works?<br />
<br />
But again, I think all of this stems back to the issue that people are adhering to the groups (and their dogmatic platforms) as opposed to the argument for the individual. We're so aware of the prejudices that exist against certain groups (be they genetically assigned or not) that we lose site of the true goal, which is to ensure that people are not abused or oppressed for ANY trait or allegiance or affiliation, no matter how large or how small. The more we argue who can or can't belong to which groups, or who is or isn't allowed to defend or support a group - which, honestly, has to be the dumbest side effect of this line-drawing - the more we're marginalizing anybody who doesn't fit into these groups based on whatever guidelines those shouting the loudest feel the need to impose. By trying so desperately to define these "legitimate" minorities or "underrepresented groups" or whatever we're calling them this week to try to fit yet another group under the umbrella, we're only creating more minorities, more <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_group" rel="wikipedia" title="Social group">groups of people</a> being considered less valuable or less deserving of respect and kindness. The cause is just, but the argument ends up becoming circular.<br />
<br />
I'm not saying we shouldn't recognize the origins of oppression and prejudice, or expose them when they take place. What I am saying is that if we cling to these groups as the ultimate definition of who we are, we are enabling the initial actions of those who chose to define us based on their opinions of whatever group it was they decided was less human than them. You don't abolish labeling by redefining the labels. You need to acknowledge that they are just that: labels. Otherwise, we stop defending individuals and end up defending our groups, and the individual we are trying to help gets lost in the worship of an ideal.<br />
<br />
What it comes down to is this: I'm not white. I'm not fat, I'm not a man, I'm not Gen-X-er, I'm not an American, I'm not a race or a size or a gender or a demographic or religion or a political party. I can be described using these terms, but I do not let them define me, and I certainly don't let others who want to use them to define me do so without an argument. We are all more than the sum of our parts, and we are far greater than mere parts of some larger sum.<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/206277/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/340707822_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/206277/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">WHEN FEMINISM IS HATE: Cathy Young: Bomb Threat Targets GamerGate Meetup (Hear From Somebody Who W...</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://grumpyelder.com/2015/05/we-need-to-define-provacative/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/341660612_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://grumpyelder.com/2015/05/we-need-to-define-provacative/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">We need to define "provacative"</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://leftfootforward.org/2015/05/he-thinks-feminists-are-obnoxious-bigots-meet-your-new-justice-minister/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/341999515_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://leftfootforward.org/2015/05/he-thinks-feminists-are-obnoxious-bigots-meet-your-new-justice-minister/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">He thinks feminists are 'obnoxious bigots': meet your new justice minister</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://bgr.com/2015/05/01/aclu-mobile-justice-ios-android-app-download/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/340203806_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://bgr.com/2015/05/01/aclu-mobile-justice-ios-android-app-download/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The ACLU unveiled a new mobile app designed to help you record and report abusive cops</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.drudge.com/news/187821/rand-paul-universities-oppress" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/noimg_129_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.drudge.com/news/187821/rand-paul-universities-oppress" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Rand Paul: Universities 'Oppress' Conservatives</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/03/33012-republicans-defend-racism-and.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/82484915_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/03/33012-republicans-defend-racism-and.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">3/30/12 - Republicans Defend Racism and Trayvon Martin's Murder</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-26527175027351979272015-05-13T22:56:00.000-04:002015-05-13T22:56:01.247-04:00Ideology as a Spectator Sport<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Disclogo1.svg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="An attempt at a discrimination graphic." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="254" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Disclogo1.svg/169px-Disclogo1.svg.png" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="169" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 169px;">An attempt at a discrimination graphic. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Disclogo1.svg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It feels more and more these days that people aren't developing philosophical viewpoints as much as they are choosing up sides, and I'm not sure where that's going to leave us in the end.<br />
<br />
I tend to be pretty vocal in my viewpoints, be they political, religious, or otherwise, and I rarely shy away from defending what I feel is right, or just, or important. It isn't a unique trait; most people tend to do the same thing to a certain extent. Belief is what guides us, and whether that belief was achieved through deliberation and inner turmoil or adopted willingly from others as a comfort, it's how we pattern our own behaviors, or at least claim or attempt to do so. So I'm not some kind of special crusader standing up against a sea of ignorance. I'm just that annoying guy spouting off occasionally on the internet, just like all of those other annoying people. You know who you are.<br />
<br />
But sometimes it feels like people aren't defending ideologies or beliefs as much as they are defending the home team, rooting against anybody that isn't rooting for them, and maybe our ability to process information and objectively discuss our difference on any level whatsoever is being jeopardized by this kind of Us vs. Them mentality.<br />
<br />
It struck me the other day when I was cracking wise about the latest <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Trayvon_Martin" rel="wikipedia" title="Shooting of Trayvon Martin">George Zimmerman</a> news eruption, and somebody I don't know (unlike most <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence" rel="wikipedia" title="Intelligence">intelligent people</a> who actively avoid conflict, I still have a public Facebook page) briefly commented on my post "So I take it you are Pro-Trevon." The phrase caught me off-guard. Pro-Trevon? Pro is usually the prefix you attach to high-profile controversial moral/legal topics, like Abortion or the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment" rel="wikipedia" title="Capital punishment">Death Penalty</a>. Trevon Martin wasn't a medical procedure or form of corporal punishment, he was just a kid. A kid who was shot and killed by a man who many people, including myself, believe shouldn't have been allowed to do so without criminal repercussions.<br />
<br />
Now, on the surface, I know what the guy meant. He was trying to assess which side of that controversial incident I am aligned with: those who defended the actions of George Zimmerman, or those who condemned the action of George Zimmerman. However, he phrased it as if the question was whether I sided with George Zimmerman or Trevon Martin, and I'm not sure if being for or against Trevon Martin is a rational standpoint to be making. Trevon, after all, is dead. His part of this equation is, unfortunately, over. There's nothing to be Pro or Anti in regards to his situation, unless the question is whether or not you are happy that a young man was shot and killed. And to be perfectly honest, I don't know Trevon, never met him or anybody else who had. Defending him as a person, as being wholly PRO or <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANTI-" rel="wikipedia" title="ANTI-">ANTI</a> him as a human being, is probably way beyond any judgement calls I should be allowed to make. If I was called as a character witness I would be thrown out of court, I have no basis for being PRO or ANTI Trevon. As much as I have a personal distaste for George Zimmerman based on the facts surrounding the case, I can't even say I'm firmly Anti-Zimmerman.<br />
<br />
What I AM against is the shooting death of an unarmed kid who was chased down by the person who eventually killed him with no provocation whatsoever. I'm also against the police not fully investigating the shooting death of a kid under such bizarre circumstances, and the possibility that the racial identity of the dead kid points to a pattern of behavior by law enforcement when it comes to how situations like this are handled. There are actually a lot of things I'm ANTI about in this entire clusterfuck of a tragedy, so many that I'm not even sure that there's anything I'm PRO about at all regarding the whole thing.<br />
<br />
(Just to put the Zimmerman thing to bed so I don't end up debating THAT all over again... Yes, I think Zimmerman was in the wrong, that everything was handled incorrectly by both him and the authorities, and I will not shed a tear when he finally eats a bullet to escape what his legacy as a human being has become. But do I think he's the pure embodiment of evil walking among us, a monster to be hunted down and destroyed the way he hunted down and killed an unarmed child? No. He's not a monster. He's a fuckup, and the only tragedy about him is that he couldn't stick to fucking up just his own life. Now, moving on...)<br />
<br />
It's human nature to try and simplify things, but I'm not sure that a situation as complex as this, with the racial/social/political/cultural/judicial ramifications stretching far and wide, should really be reduced to "Whose team are you on?" As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that this Us vs. Them mentality is exactly the reason why shit like this goes down in the first place. So how does it get to this? Why would a situation that evokes such passion and concern in almost the entire population motivate people to give less thought to the complexity of the situation rather than more? Can we really trace the causes of this muddled cacophony of human frailties and find a mutual solution that involves all of us living together in peace and harmony by demanding to know who is Pro-<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death" rel="wikipedia" title="Death">Dead</a>-Kid and who is Pro-Kid Killer?<br />
<br />
Taking a step back, it seems like this is how all of our big philosophical battles are being waged these days. You can't enter a discussion about <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=31.7833333333,35.2166666667&spn=10.0,10.0&q=31.7833333333,35.2166666667%20(Israel)&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="Israel">Israel</a> and Palestine without hearing "Antisemitic." Disagreeing with business owners refusing to cater gay weddings becomes "Christian Persecution." And lets not forget the chest-thumping "You're with us or against us" patriotism the minute someone questions <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" rel="wikipedia" title="United States">American</a> foreign policy or brings up our proud history of killing and enslaving other races in the pursuit of Freedom and Liberty.<br />
<br />
And don't let it be said I'm only picking on the right. Not everybody who espouses a moral objection to same-sex marriages is "Homophobic," and I'm not exactly sure why we can't rally against institutionalized racist policies without "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_privilege" rel="wikipedia" title="White privilege">White Privilege</a>" getting thrown into the mix. Is every white person a racist? Is every Republican a bigot? Is every Christian a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia" rel="wikipedia" title="Homophobia">Homophobe</a>? Is every liberal a Communist? Are there any really absolutes when it comes to the complexities of the human mind and spirit?<br />
<br />
I'm not saying that we shouldn't be choosing battles, shouldn't be rallying for causes, shouldn't be speaking out for or against things we feel are important, whether for just ourselves or for mankind as a whole. But do we need to reduce it all to black-and-white, us-or-them, team-spirit posturing? Because the problem with that approach is that we're making up the teams as we go along, deciding for ourselves who the opposition is, stating their own arguments for them, and setting them up as the straw men we need to win our battle, and wouldn't you know it, they're doing the same damn thing. I get it, true objectiveness is a myth, we're all guided by our own beliefs. But we don't have to be blinded by them as well.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's all too much to ask. Maybe it's too easy to cherry-pick our own facts and ensure that any argument that contradicts or questions our chosen realities is defined as victimization rather than disagreement. All I know is, I'm not Pro-Trevon. My ideologies are not cannot be defined by a prefix and a proper noun, and it doesn't involve being on the winning team. If that's the way we go, my guess is that we'll all lose.<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/4/29/8514757/death-penalty-map" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/339812705_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/4/29/8514757/death-penalty-map" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">America's 1,407 executions since 1976, mapped</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="https://astrogoodwin.wordpress.com/2015/04/18/improving-on-ones-spiritual-beliefs/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/337948152_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="https://astrogoodwin.wordpress.com/2015/04/18/improving-on-ones-spiritual-beliefs/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Improving on ones spiritual beliefs!!!</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/site/article/hillary-deep-seated-religious-beliefs-have-to-change-so-there-can-be-more-a" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/339330226_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/site/article/hillary-deep-seated-religious-beliefs-have-to-change-so-there-can-be-more-a" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Hillary: Deep-seated religious beliefs have to change so there can be more abortions</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://robertjrgraham.com/beliefs-and-convictions-are-related/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/342162718_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://robertjrgraham.com/beliefs-and-convictions-are-related/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">How Beliefs and Convictions Are Related?</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/george-zimmerman-shooter-could-use-stand-your-ground-defense/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/341873749_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/george-zimmerman-shooter-could-use-stand-your-ground-defense/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">George Zimmerman Shooter Could Use Stand Your Ground Defense</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/04/17/nebraska-conservatives-battle-one-another-over-repeal-of-death-penalty/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/337772497_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/04/17/nebraska-conservatives-battle-one-another-over-repeal-of-death-penalty/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Nebraska Conservatives Battle One Another Over Repeal Of Death Penalty</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-38250213663602511032015-05-12T18:30:00.000-04:002015-05-12T20:14:34.375-04:00The Warm Embrace of Madness<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rorschach.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Rorschach (comics)" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="625" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/be/Rorschach.png" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 250px;">Rorschach (comics) (Photo credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rorschach.png">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Days like today remind me why </span><span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;">Rorschach was always my favorite <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Watchmen-Alan-Moore/dp/0930289234%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dtheoffwebofsm-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0930289234" rel="amazon" title="Watchmen">Watchmen</a> character."</span><br />
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;"><br /></span>
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;">That was a Tweet I posted earlier today, partially in jest, but it got me to thinking about the attraction of mentally unstable characters in entertainment.</span><br />
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;"><br /></span>
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;">I've always been drawn to crazy characters in stories, even during my childhood. My favorite A-Team character was Murdock, comic book characters like The Tick and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambush_Bug" rel="wikipedia" title="Ambush Bug">Ambush Bug</a> appealed to me more than any brooding crime-fighters, and even when it came to classic comedies I was always partial to the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx_Brothers" rel="wikipedia" title="Marx Brothers">Marx Brothers</a>, who defied authority figures and high society with their own brand of madness. Even when steering away from humor, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insanity" rel="wikipedia" title="Insanity">insanity</a> was always a desirable trait in characters for me, like the aforementioned Rorschach. Is this healthy? I mean, should I really be feeling some sort of emotional connection with Matthew <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000190/" rel="imdb" title="Matthew McConaughey">McConaughey</a>'s character Rust from the first season of True Detective? What is it about mentally fractured characters that touches me in such a personal manner?</span><br />
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;"><br /></span>
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;">Of course, I'm not the only person who feels this way. This is why The Joker is still one of the most popular characters in the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Universe" rel="wikipedia" title="DC Universe">DC Comics universe</a>, and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley_Quinn" rel="wikipedia" title="Harley Quinn">Harley Quinn</a>'s cult status is finally being confirmed with her inclusion in the upcoming <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_Squad" rel="wikipedia" title="Suicide Squad">Suicide Squad</a> film. Insanity isn't exactly the status quo for leading roles and superheroes, but it comprises enough of the popular culture to prevent it from being dismissed as a niche or minor following. There's just something about the loss of an individual's descent into madness that is not just entertaining, but appealing.</span><br />
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;"><br /></span>
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;">It makes me wonder what I would be like if I had gone over the edge at some point in my life. Would I be a madcap smart-ass or a brooding figure of philosophical contemplation. Would my madness drive me to violence or destructive behavior, lashing out and perceived threats and preaching <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.5846222222,35.1834944444&spn=0.01,0.01&q=32.5846222222,35.1834944444%20(Armageddon)&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="Armageddon">Armageddon</a>? Or would my disconnect with reality be more amusing and playful then sad and antagonistic? Would I dress up in colorful costumes, or just stop bathing and wear plastic bags and tinfoil armor? Would I be paranoid or fearless? So many possibilities.</span><br />
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;"><br /></span>
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;">It's probably a dark place to take that train of thought, but maybe that's the appeal of the crazy character, the fantasy of unshackling oneself from the restrictions of the real world, or even responding to the flawed logic that can often seem to control the world around us by adopting our own illogical viewpoint. If we can look at the world through rose-colored glasses, to coin a phrase, why can't we choose to color our reality in a more daring kaleidoscope of delusion? If ignorance is bliss, is madness ecstasy?</span><br />
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;"><br /></span>
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;">There's also the flip side to insanity as portrayed most popularly by H.P. Lovecraft, the idea that excessive knowledge can drive someone beyond the brink of sanity, the corrupting power of absolute knowledge. There's something both anti-authoritative and self-destructive about being attracted to the idea that actually understanding how or why things work would prevent someone from being able to function within the confines of reality. There's the theological aspect of this as well, the idea of the human mind being incapable of handling divine knowledge, that looking directly into the face of God is impossible without dire consequences. After all, did we not learn anything from <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Indiana-Jones-Raiders-Lost-Special/dp/B0014Z4OMU%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dtheoffwebofsm-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0014Z4OMU" rel="amazon" title="Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (Special Edition)">Raiders of the Lost Ark</a>?</span><br />
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;"><br /></span>
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;">Does all of this mean that there is a part of us that wants to lose control, give into the dark or wild side of the soul, sever the ties that bind us to society and swing free from our own strings? Or perhaps, just perhaps, it is a subconscious acknowledgement that the only way to truly exist as an individual is to separate from society, to live outside of the system not just ideologically, but emotionally and mentally as well; the realization that to break from the global community is in itself an act of denial in the face of the hive-mind of society, and therefore to truly be ourselves, creators of our own paths, is in itself an act of madness?</span><br />
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;"><br /></span>
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;">Anyway, just a thought. I don't think I'll be going mad anytime soon. Unless I already have. Hard to tell sometimes. Maybe that's the point.</span><br />
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;"><br /></span>
<span class="aimFont" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 2;">NOTE: This contemplation about the appeal of insanity in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_%28arts%29" rel="wikipedia" title="Character (arts)">fictional characters</a> has no direct bearing on actual <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder" rel="wikipedia" title="Mental disorder">mental illness</a> affecting real people in the real world, and is not meant to belittle or trivialize the emotional pain and suffering experienced by those afflicted with serious mental health issues. So if you find yourself offended in some way by this blog post, you really shouldn't.</span><br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.neatorama.com/2015/04/29/The-Complete-History-of-The-Jokers-Many-Incarnations/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/339845230_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.neatorama.com/2015/04/29/The-Complete-History-of-The-Jokers-Many-Incarnations/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Complete History of The Joker's Many Incarnations</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.techtimes.com/articles/50752/20150505/suicide-squad-origin-and-history-of-harley-quinn.htm" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/340919373_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.techtimes.com/articles/50752/20150505/suicide-squad-origin-and-history-of-harley-quinn.htm" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Suicide Squad: Origin And History Of Harley Quinn</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2012/01/great-characters-rorschach-watchmen.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/noimg_45_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2012/01/great-characters-rorschach-watchmen.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Great Characters: Rorschach ("Watchmen")</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.geekologie.com/2010/12/real_life_wizardry_make_your_o.php" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/noimg_14_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.geekologie.com/2010/12/real_life_wizardry_make_your_o.php" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Real Life Wizardry: Make Your Own Rorshach Mask With Actually Morphing Designs</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-58616354432369153962015-05-11T19:28:00.001-04:002015-05-11T19:28:24.320-04:00Internet Shaming & the Limits of the Social Contract<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Social_media_revolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Infographic on how Social Media are b..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="575" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/Social_media_revolution.jpg/350px-Social_media_revolution.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;">English: Infographic on how Social Media are being used, and how everything is changed by them. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Social_media_revolution.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Recently in the news, there was a story about a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=39.0,-105.5&spn=3.0,3.0&q=39.0,-105.5%20(Colorado)&t=h" rel="geolocation" title="Colorado">Colorado</a> resident that came across a family allowing their children to carve their names onto the hand rail of a state park. When confronted about allowing his children to deface federal property, the father of the group was rude and dismissive, and the person eventually took a picture of the people and <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/05/05/facebook-outrage-over-park-vandalism-sparks-probe/26958565/" target="_blank">posted it online, where the story and picture "went viral" and elevated the incident to national news status</a>. Currently, state authorities have indicated that they've used the picture to gain some leads towards tracking down the responsible family, as defacing state park equipment is punishable by hefty fines and possibly jail time, and so the story has - on the surface, at least - a happy ending.<br />
<br />
My initial reaction to this story got me thinking about the pervasiveness of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Social_media" rel="wikinvest" title="Social media">Social Media</a> these days, mainly because my immediate response was "Good." I'm sure most people reading the story felt the same way. What's there not to cheer about, after all? Everybody hates assholes, as this family appeared to be by the description given by the person who outed them, and they were committing a crime, so on the surface it really feels like justice was served. But there's a larger question behind this, and I'm not sure if we're fulling considering the ramifications of our overwhelming acceptance of incidents such as this one.<br />
<br />
Government surveillance has been an ongoing concern for as long as there has been government oppression, up to and including the current controversies surrounding Homeland Security's collection of public cell phone records. It's even been turned around as a tool against corruption, with the recent surge in questionable police tactics resulting in an increased desire to have police recorded in action by both themselves and others, with many states now passing legislation both for and against the latter. More than ever, the average citizen is aware that he or she is being listened to or watched.<br />
<br />
There has also been more attention to invasion of privacy between citizens. Loopholes in voyeurism or "Peeping Tom" laws are being closed to include <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/06/us/upskirt-photography/" target="_blank">"upskirt" videos</a> and <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/04/nfl-linebacker-case-highlights-rise-revenge-porn-laws/" target="_blank">"revenge porn"</a> in the the language regarding what is and is not considered an invasion of privacy. But there's a gray area that continues to avoid scrutiny, and that comes with the territory when we consider our growing acceptance of the increasing practice of publicly displaying videos and pictures on social media and media sharing sites like Facebook or <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.youtube.com/" rel="homepage" title="YouTube">YouTube</a>.<br />
<br />
It could be argued whether this is a communal advancement in communication or just an increased narcissism encouraged by the proliferation of high-quality digital photography equipment. After all, people took pictures of themselves and shared them with others way before Selfies and Vine shorts. It's just the ease with which this can now be accomplished that we find it happening on such a grand scale. But there's an off-shoot of this cultural phenomenon that has a much larger social impact, and it involves incidents like the State Park one mentioned above.<br />
<br />
More and more, we find people using the internet to "expose" or "bring attention to" someone or something that they find unacceptable or reprehensible. We probably don't think twice about it, because usually it's something that we can find ourselves agreeing with in some way, whether it's <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.rickygervais.com/" rel="homepage" title="Ricky Gervais">Ricky Gervais</a> mocking big game hunter selfies, or commuters sharing videos of road rage bullies. We are all asked to shake our fingers as a community at somebody we generally agree should be ostracized to some extent, and short of defending the act or behavior being exposed, we can so little but nod our heads in agreement and move on to the next link.<br />
<br />
Alarm bells don't ring instinctively because this doesn't feel like surveillance or oppression. It isn't a government or organization seeking to defame an innocent person, after all. Then again, the news these days seems to do little more than engage in gossip and character speculation with political figures or well-known celebrities, so even if that were the case it is questionable if we would protest to much at that kind of behavior. And aren't we fed a regular diet of public spectacle on prime time television now, with Americans singing or dancing or displaying other talents for our communal approval or, more popularly, derision?<br />
<br />
Beyond all of this, however, is the real dilemma posed by actions like this. Social media is indeed being used as a tool for social justice. The question is, how comfortable should we be with this? Technically, this could be considered an extension of the social contract to which we all silently bind ourselves. Society expects certain communal behaviors, certain spoken or unspoken rules to be followed, and those that aren't adhered to cause a retaliation by the rest of society. The loud, disruptive theater goer, if not silenced by the management, will eventually be confronted by the other people being disturbed in the audience.<br />
<br />
We see this kind of thing happening to some degree through social media outlets like <a class="zem_slink" href="http://twitter.com/twitter" rel="twitter" title="Twitter">Twitter</a>, where thousands of users will suddenly flood the system with reactions to something they have deemed as outrageous, usually a quote from a public figure of authority or celebrity. Even when posted under actual names, there is a level of anonymity - or at least distance - that emboldens us to speak out actively, and in many cases belligerently or in an abusive manner, against statements or actions that why might have simply shrugged off in the past.<br />
<br />
But then there are the instances that can be more accurately described as Social <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigilante" rel="wikipedia" title="Vigilante">Vigilantism</a>, like the Colorado case I mentioned before. Every couple of weeks there's some "viral" campaign that winds up drawing national attention to some action or event that has garnered outrage. Everything from pizza shops refusing to cater gay weddings to acts of violence finds its way into the public eye and becomes the focus of what might be described as public shaming. Its the digital equivalent of dragging someone into the town square and presenting their crimes to the public for open debate.<br />
<br />
On the surface we could agree that this is a good thing. People coming to the aid of others, or taking more of an interest in the world around them, that is a positive move away from the detachment and apathy that the internet has been predicted by many to instill in the populace. And if this "power of the people" is used to expose dangerous behaviors or punish crimes, then what could possibly be the harm?<br />
<br />
Of course, the problem is that this kind of media-based vigilantism is prone to the same flaws as those posed by the classic vigilante. As soon as we let individuals take the law into their own hands, the fine line between <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bronson" rel="wikipedia" title="Charles Bronson">Charles Bronson</a> gunning down street hoodlums in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Death-Wish-Charles-Bronson/dp/B0000541AN%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dtheoffwebofsm-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0000541AN" rel="amazon" title="Death Wish">Death Wish</a> and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Goetz" rel="wikipedia" title="Bernhard Goetz">Bernie Goetz</a> doing the same to underage muggers becomes blurred. And when the public begin dispensing its own brand of justice instead of the individual, it becomes a case of "mob rule," which is rarely shown in a positive light.<br />
<br />
But are these acts of public shaming Mob Rule or Vigilantism? The acceptability of these online attacks began bothering me when I noticed the irony involved in instances where bullies were filmed harassing people - everything from schoolyard pummeling to homophobic slurs and sexist catcalls - and then subjected to public assault and ridicule online. As a childhood victim of bullying myself, it is hard for me to find fault with publicly denouncing such behavior and forcing those who would prey on others to answer for their deeds. But then there is the irony, the idea that the punishment for attacking someone in a demeaning fashion should be to demean them publicly. It's an eye-for-an-eye mentality that feels good but leaves much to be desired in a civilized society, and it comes with enough moral pitfalls to deserve a closer examination.<br />
<br />
And sometimes the punishment may be worse than the crime. Take the woman who posted a picture of herself screaming and flipping the bird next to a sign demanded quiet and respect. She thought it was funny, but since the sign was posted at a veteran's memorial cemetery, the picture offended some people and was sent "viral" by angry posts sharing the picture. The end result of the media attention that followed was the loss of her job. A fair result? You could argue that she had only herself to blame, and maybe those seeking to be controversial shouldn't be surprised when people respond. But if there is to be a penalty for bad taste or poor decisions, are we comfortable with our own actions being held to such a standard?<br />
<br />
The idea of public approval should also raise more questions. It always feels good when we find ourselves in agreement with like-minded individuals, and raising our voices in defiance or retaliation with others is the foundation of our laws protecting freedom of speech and public assembly. But then, that always comes down to who is defining the gathering as a protest or a mob, and which end of the dissent your find yourself on. Raising concerns and addressing injustices can be argued to be the responsibility of the community, of society as a whole, but that usually also involves some to of governing structure or organizational body behind the scenes lending order and civility to the communal actions.<br />
<br />
It's a balancing act behind most discourse that one doesn't necessarily see in the realm of Social Media. We have an increasingly insignificant amount of control over our public visibility; anybody can create a "meme" using your image or post a video of you doing something you'd rather not have others see, and beyond the limited legal resources you might have to restrict that usage, there's practically nothing you can do to prevent somebody from turning your life into a viral campaign against whatever it is about you they don't like.<br />
<br />
We have a growing awareness of "cyber-bullying," yet only seem willing to acknowledge it when it involves teenage girls (or their parents) driving the intended victim to self-harm or suicide. We don't make the same connection to the family carving initials into a railing or the drunk frat boys harassing the gay couple on the street because... well, because we don't like them, and defending people whose actions we deplore isn't a popular pastime.<br />
<br />
I'm not saying I have an answer to all of this, or a solution to whatever problems this kind of debate raises. But it doesn't appear to be a conversation that we are having, and that could prove to be disastrous in the long term.<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://mobile.wnd.com/2015/04/death-threats-for-female-hunter-who-shot-giraffe/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/337500569_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://mobile.wnd.com/2015/04/death-threats-for-female-hunter-who-shot-giraffe/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Death threats for female hunter who shot giraffe</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.mediaite.com/online/vet-fired-after-social-media-firestorm-over-killing-tomcat-with-arrow/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/337806064_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.mediaite.com/online/vet-fired-after-social-media-firestorm-over-killing-tomcat-with-arrow/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vet Fired After Social Media Firestorm over Killing Tomcat with Arrow</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.wnyc.org/story/the-policing-videos-you-havent-seen-miami-nashville-colorado-springs/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/341417926_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.wnyc.org/story/the-policing-videos-you-havent-seen-miami-nashville-colorado-springs/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Policing Videos You Haven't Seen: Miami, Nashville, Colorado Springs</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://wgntv.com/2015/05/06/prom-photo-with-students-holding-confederate-flag-guns-causing-controversy/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/340961695_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://wgntv.com/2015/05/06/prom-photo-with-students-holding-confederate-flag-guns-causing-controversy/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Prom photo with students holding Confederate flag, guns causing controversy</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150511/cops-warned-stop-posting-crime-scene-images-social-media" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/341785843_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150511/cops-warned-stop-posting-crime-scene-images-social-media" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Cops warned to stop posting crime scene images on social media</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/is.social.media.to.blame.for.the.rise.in.divorces/53090.htm" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/339964569_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/is.social.media.to.blame.for.the.rise.in.divorces/53090.htm" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Is social media to blame for the rise in divorces?</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-37405176110056166582015-03-23T12:48:00.000-04:002015-03-23T12:48:53.141-04:00Rejecting the Dialogue on Race Relations - or - Taking Your Coffee Black<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Starbucks_Corporation_Logo_2011.svg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Redesigned logo used from 2011-present." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="300" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d3/Starbucks_Corporation_Logo_2011.svg/300px-Starbucks_Corporation_Logo_2011.svg.png" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">Redesigned logo used from 2011-present. (Photo credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Starbucks_Corporation_Logo_2011.svg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I hate being forced to defend <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.starbucks.com/" rel="homepage" title="Starbucks">Starbucks</a>. I still remember when the overpriced coffee franchise first spread across the country like a fast-moving virus, quickly and efficiently forcing so many independent coffee shops out of business that the Starbucks logo soon became the textbook example of corporate infiltration and cultural destruction, so hating Starbucks and everything it seems to represent comes easy.<br />
<br />
At least, it used to come easy. But then Starbucks had to go and <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2013/03/26/news/companies/starbucks-gay-marriage/" target="_blank">support same-sex marriage</a>, and <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2014/10/07/news/companies/starbucks-asu-starts/" target="_blank">offer tuition aid to employees</a>, and other progressive acts (like <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/2014/04/10/starbucks-american-express-still-support-planned-parenthood/" target="_blank">supporting Planned Parenthood</a>) that don't necessarily conform to the presumed image of an evil corporate empire. It's easy to hate somebody for charging you $8 for a cup of coffee, but even I have to stop and admit that even <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.legalzoom.com/dba-guide/corporation.html" rel="legalzoom" title="Corporation Dba">corporate entities</a> are allowed to try and have a positive impact on society. After all, aren't corporations people too?<br />
<br />
So once again I find myself defending a company I do not financially support (I don't boycott Starbucks, I just prefer cheaper coffee), and as seems to happen more often these days, from the very people that should be supporting them as well.<br />
<br />
By now it is already cemented as a legend in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_relations" rel="wikipedia" title="Public relations">PR</a> Catastrophes alongside <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Coke" rel="wikipedia" title="New Coke">New Coke</a> and Bill Cosby's "Meme Me" debacle. The company that loves to write stuff on the side of your coffee cup decided that it wanted to get involved in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociology_of_race_and_ethnic_relations" rel="wikipedia" title="Sociology of race and ethnic relations">race relations</a> in America by having baristas scrawl #RaceTogether on outgoing orders, and therefore inviting customers to engage in an open discussion about race. If you are a rational adult with any honest perception of how the world works, you are already headdesking in disbelief. Next to religion and politics, race relations in America is the topic most guaranteed to aggravate/offend/anger somebody when mentioned in mixed company. Race relations in America is an ongoing discussion that can devour hours of heated and passionate debate without forging an inch of new ground, and here we have a corporate policy openly encouraging employees to enter into conversations about this hot-button topic in the time it takes to fill a cup with hot liquid and write something on the side. I think the general rule of thumb is that no topic you would be hesitant to bring up at Thanksgiving is suitable for casual chatting for any occupation in the services industry.<br />
<br />
Now, the initial problems with this PR brainstorm are obvious. Beyond Starbucks employees having no formal training on discussing sensitive issues with a wide variety of personalities, and no mandated historic or social education on race, the company has no way of preventing the possibility that either the employee or the customer will have views on the subject that aren't a) Too complex or underdeveloped to understand, b) Inherently racist, or c) Batshit crazy. And let's be honest, who has time for lengthy discussions on ANY topic while getting a coffee to go. So, yeah, bad idea all around.<br />
<br />
However, the amount of blowback received by Starbucks from people on the left regarding the failed PR campaign feels extremely out of proportion to me, especially considering that what the company was trying to do is, for an corporation, commendable. Critics immediately flooded <a class="zem_slink" href="http://twitter.com/" rel="homepage" title="Twitter">Twitter</a> (heaven forbid) questioning the diversity of the company's shareholders, complaining about imaging blunders like the hands in all of the #RaceTogether promotional pictures presumably belonging to white people, and criticizing CEO <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.starbucks.com/" rel="homepage" title="Howard Schultz">Howard Schultz</a> for closing down his own Twitter account once the barrage of angry responses hit him.<br />
<br />
But can we take a step back and look at the "WHY" behind the anger over the Starbucks failed hashtag campaign? Was it poorly thought out and haphazardly executed? Oh my, yes. But apart from there being too many white hands holding coffee cups and collecting the profits (both of which I feel are debatable arguments themselves), what was the big crime perpetrated by Starbucks? Trying to instigate thoughtful dialogue? While I would argue that it isn't a good idea from a business standpoint, I can't think of anything overtly negative about asking people to talk about a subject, or implying that doing so might be a good thing in the long run. And while it's hard to profile an individual's ideology from a Twitter profile, the majority of people that expressed outrage with the campaign appeared to be mostly those in the anti-racism or pro-equality camp. Aren't these the very people who should be supporting an open dialogue about race relations in America?<br />
<br />
There seems to be a growing disconnect between what we say we want and what we are prepared to accept. Can we logically claim that we want greater social awareness and understanding if the minute a company says, "Hey, let's talk," the immediate response is "How dare you!" Is the problem that Starbucks just attempted to encourage an open dialogue instead of promoting or supporting an established argument or slogan? If that's the case, then we aren't promoting understanding, we're assigning a specific dogmatic ideology, which doesn't really seem that progressive to me.<br />
<br />
Then you have the complaints that Starbucks was trying to "lecture" customers or "solve" racism altogether, proof of which I could not find in any of the #RaceTogether marketing. In fact, Starbucks didn't appear to be pushing any specific agenda - oddly enough, even a more simplistic "Racism is Bad" stance, which might have gone over slightly better - and seems to be more of a knee-jerk reaction to having racism even mentioned in a commercial environment. These were the few reactions that seemed more conservative in nature - complaints about being served white privilege with their black coffee and other such clever bon mots - and come off more defensive than anything else. Which, of course, is what you should normally expect from people when suddenly plunging them into a discussion on race relations. Welcome to America, home of the sarcastic retort via social media.<br />
<br />
The other arguments feel even less progressive or rational to me. If the complaint it really that the white hands holding cups in promotional images were somehow contradictory to the message, or that the executives aren't racially diverse enough to promote tolerance and acceptance, then the logical conclusion from that complaint is that discussions on race relations in America aren't valid if they involve <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_American" rel="wikipedia" title="White American">white Americans</a>. That's where you really lose me. Because in order for race relations to improve in this country - and I think we're all in agreement that they need improvement - white people are going to need to be a part of that equation. In fact, they're an essential part of any movement towards ending racial oppression and discrimination if the ultimate goal is to get all white people on the bandwagon, and shutting them out of the discussion based solely on the color of their skin isn't exactly the best wat to get that ball rolling.<br />
<br />
So, just to recap: Should Starbucks have tried to engage it's customers in a discussion about race relations in America? Hell no. Was it a bad idea? Yes, but not for any reasons that we should feel good or comfortable about. Is this emblematic of how hard it is in this country to even discuss important social issues anymore, regardless of which side of the debate you stand on? Sadly, yes again.<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/03/starbucks-race-together-campaign-faces-angry.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/332103138_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/03/starbucks-race-together-campaign-faces-angry.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Starbucks' 'Race Together' campaign faces angry backlash on Twitter</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://weaselzippers.us/217593-race-together-not-at-starbucks-only-3-out-of-19-executives-are-people-of-color/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/332184497_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://weaselzippers.us/217593-race-together-not-at-starbucks-only-3-out-of-19-executives-are-people-of-color/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"Race Together?" Not At Starbucks, Only 3 Out Of 19 Executives Are "People Of Color"...</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://grumpyelder.com/2015/03/starbucks-spills-hot-coffee-on-its-crotch/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/332965910_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://grumpyelder.com/2015/03/starbucks-spills-hot-coffee-on-its-crotch/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Starbucks spills hot coffee on its crotch</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/03/33012-republicans-defend-racism-and.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/82484915_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/03/33012-republicans-defend-racism-and.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">3/30/12 - Republicans Defend Racism and Trayvon Martin's Murder</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://dailysurge.com/2015/03/starbucks-will-now-talk-to-you-about-race-and-inequality-in-america/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/332023755_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://dailysurge.com/2015/03/starbucks-will-now-talk-to-you-about-race-and-inequality-in-america/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">OH BOY: Starbucks Will Now Talk To You About Race And Inequality In America</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.wyff4.com/money/starbucks-stops-writing-race-together-on-cups/31960034?absolute=true" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="//i.zemanta.com/333074597_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.wyff4.com/money/starbucks-stops-writing-race-together-on-cups/31960034?absolute=true" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Starbucks stops writing 'Race Together' on cups</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-31307279020139290682014-05-19T12:30:00.000-04:002014-05-19T12:30:00.595-04:00Don't Get Me Started (A Much-Deserved Rant)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80682954@N00/2216511038" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="RANT, this way" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="212" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/2216511038_75f48a003d_n.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 320px;">RANT, this way (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80682954@N00/2216511038">Nesster</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There's only so much of it you can choke down before the bile has to rise. There's only so much of it you can absorb without reaching a breaking point, especially in the age of Facebook and Google and Smartphones. And so you hit a point where you can't take any more. How can you? You've got kids being sent home from the prom for being too sexy and removed from the yearbook because girls shouldn't be wearing tuxedos while elected officials run around blaming women for rape and saying that women deserve to earn less than men because they don't work as hard and should be devoting themselves to home and family instead anyway, and access to birth control is suddenly an issue again as a large segment of the population is trying to wish this country's female population back into the nineteenth century. Slut shaming has ceased to be an adolescent bully tactic and has instead become an accepted life lesson by the same adults who defend bullying as a rite of passage and then defend their own kids when they cyber-bully a classmate into a suicide attempt or rape an underage drunk girl at a party by claiming she was asking for it anyway as towns rally behind jocks and run rape victims out of town because popular high school football players are more important than protecting young girls from date rape because our daughter doesn't behave like that so its really not our problem, is it? And the kids are fucked anyway because childhood obesity is becoming a massive epidemic and you've got people blaming the kids for for being lazy and eating too much while completely ignoring the fact that their diet consists of the poisonous crap being sold as food these days, with something like 80% of processed foods containing added sugar or even worse corn syrup because the food manufacturers just had to go out of their way to find a more harmful sweetener than cane sugar, since the pathetic state of the FDA where they can't even inspect a fraction of the food industry and level wrist-slap fines that don't even put a dent in the profit margin that the unsafe preparation of food offers still isn't killing people in this country fast enough, and they still haven't figured out how to turn mercury into a flavor-enhancing additive. Which shouldn't be so surprising since this country excels in intentionally poisoning itself with an unending supply of cigarettes and alcohol while the government hypocritically spends billions combating the recreational drugs that don't have corporate sponsorship, and so our government is still attempting to protect it's people from ingesting potentially harmful recreational drugs while eagerly allowing the food companies to shovel shit down their throats, and they care so much about American lives that we're the only industrialized nation left that still has the death penalty but is repelled by the idea of socialized medicine, because nothing says Freedom like being free to die a slow and painful death because you can't afford treatment for your illness in the richest fucking nation on the planet, so the lower class die in emergency rooms and the middle class lose their houses to pay for a week-long hospital stay after a necessary procedure while other people and politicians alike scream about the inequalities and dangers of providing healthcare to all Americans and talk shit about other countries with socialized medicine while the U S of A sports the highest mortality rates and is beat out by Cuba for quality of medical care provided, and this outcry against giving something to people for free, God forbid, doesn't even include the constant attacks against programs designed to assist poor families with shelter and heating and helping them feed their poor children, starving children for fuck's sake, because what kind of a moral Christian nation would we be if we allowed our hard-earned tax dollars to go towards feeding starving innocent children because what kind of commie pinko nation is this that we're so afraid of letting the poor and inform die in the streets and clog up the gutters which are clogging up on their own anyway since the richest country in the fucking world can't be bothered to even maintain its own infrastructure, so at least the US government isn't that hypocritical since it doesn't even believe in maintain its own health, let alone the health of the people the government is supposed to be serving, not exploiting and ignoring. But why bitch about the government when you can just wait a few minutes and listen to the caterwauling insanity of the growing portion of the population dead-set against any kind of humanistic or empathetic world view, the mewling asshats who live in constant fear of anything happening that they don't personally approve of, shouting out against gay couples being allowed to marry as if it was an affront to anything more than their own myopic world views, arguing against shit that doesn't affect them on any level except what could only be referred to jokingly as an intellectual level, these soulless motherfuckers that compare immigrants and poor people to animals then look around for a high-five as if they'd just said something urbanely wise and clever, like they're some kind of modern day Jonathan Swift instead of just another unsympathetic asshole more concerned about somebody else getting something they didn't than any heartfelt consideration for other human beings, rallying against lowering costs or interest rates or god forbid offering free higher education because they want to make sure we have enough stupid people to flip their burgers and dig the ditch they want to shit in because by their reasoning if everyone has access to affordable education then nobody will drive a garbage truck, and they don't like their tax money going to education anyway because they're constantly bitching that the public school systems are a joke and don't teach anything, which is usually an awkward argument because most of the time the people saying this are products of public schools anyway so by their own argument they just might be too fucking stupid to be listened to if they were products of the public school system, but of course they were probably just so smart to begin with or they don't mean their schools but "other" schools which means schools in poor and urban areas which should be gradually shut down by implementing voucher systems so we can revert to the good old days when only the children of wealthy families got any schooling so these greedy bastards can be sure that there is enough of an uneducated workforce to keep the cost of their Egg McFucking Muffin down, and of course this goes right into their reasoning against raising the minimum wage, because not only will their plastic cheap-ass Walmart patio decorations cost them fifty cents more if a multi-billion dollar corporation actually has to pay its workers a living wage, but because they claim you need to underpay laborers less than they can live on otherwise they won't have any incentive to work harder even though the working poor are working harder than these loudmouthed motherfuckers have ever worked in their miserable lives just so they can pay the skyrocketing rent on their shitty one-bedroom apartment and make sure their kids can eat corn-syrup-injected processed crap that keeps them simultaneously fed and malnourished because some fucknut managed to get the meal programs budget cut at the school they won't even be able to go to once the new voucher system allows them to go to a really good private school even though studies have shown that private schools aren't that much better just because they turn a profit and free-market economics doesn't work when you're not producing an actual product asshole, but in reality that voucher is not going to cover the entire cost so the father working three shit jobs and paying payroll taxes on all of them won't be able to pony up the cash for the voucher difference and will the dickhead greedy taxpayer want to spring the bill for shipping kids two hours each way to the nearest public school crappy enough for an equal voucher exchange, why of course not what are we commies or something? And these assholes are everywhere, and they are loud and obnoxious and the symptom of a larger disease, the growing Apathy of the American public, not a physical apathy or even mental apathy but an emotional apathy that is increasingly removing any desire of people that are otherwise active in getting involved in ideas and philosophies and debates and arguments but cannot be bothered to actually attempt to feel anything for anybody but themselves and their ideological viewpoints that are the new religion of a country supposedly founded on Christian morality but is actually serving the deities of money and vanity and won't even consider any kind of concept that doesn't involve an increased profit margin or confirmation that they are everything that is right with the world, this shallow unsympathetic fucks who bitch about tax dollars funding art students or poor children but couldn't give a rat's ass how many innocents are killed by the flying killer robots their tax dollars bought or anything else except how much they have to pay the pool guy or tip the waitress or pay for anything because what the hell are we except cash receptacles and if you don't have enough to make you count as a real person than its your fault for not being smart enough or lucky enough because we don't want public schools teaching evolution while we force survival-of-the-fittest economics theory into common practice instead of using the collective wealth of a nation to benefit all of its citizens, and not just the ones that can afford to live the American Dream, what a fucking joke, the American Dream has become the world's largest Ponzi Scheme that will bankrupt the ones defending it as well as the unappreciated masses they dismiss with contempt, and I can't debate fuckwits like this anymore and pretend that their arguments are valid and treat them with even a fraction of the respect they refuse to show the people they dismiss and denigrate and even blame for everything wrong with this vast social experiment gone vastly awry, and I can't go on playing nice with these vile fucks, they need to be shouted down and cursed out and treated like the soulless bastards they are, because there is only so many times I can be fed "let's agree to disagree" before I have to refuse to pretend their inhumane and narrow-sighted ideas are relevant in any rational sense of the word, and maybe if we stopped playing this he-said-she-said let them think what they want and we don't want to sink to their level game and lashed out against the idiots screaming offensive ideologies into the wind as if greed and arrogance were noble traits, perhaps the sooner we just call out these people for being the scumbags that they are, then maybe we can all vent this growing frustration that results from dealing with this level of ignorance on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
Fuck it. I need a nap.<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2013/10/10813-baby-heads-children-and.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/271260474_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2013/10/10813-baby-heads-children-and.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">10/8/13: Baby Heads, Children, and Punctuation</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://strangelandpod.blogspot.com/2012/09/strange-land-15-wake-fuck-up.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/123031995_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://strangelandpod.blogspot.com/2012/09/strange-land-15-wake-fuck-up.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Strange Land #15: Wake the Fuck Up!</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-minimum-moral-wage.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/271260473_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-minimum-moral-wage.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Minimum Moral Wage</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/09/92811-class-warfare-facebook-evolution.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_129_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/09/92811-class-warfare-facebook-evolution.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">9/28/11 - Class Warfare, Facebook Evolution, Slumming Actors, and Canceled Prime Time Nightmares</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=f177fa6e-1686-4ecd-a602-360a80bdd095" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-1124180511295198792014-05-14T13:56:00.000-04:002014-05-14T13:57:20.048-04:00The Minimum Moral Wage<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="zemanta-img">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49190824@N08/6791052120" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Minimal Minimum Wage" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7185/6791052120_b66a507403_n.jpg" height="320" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center;">Minimal Minimum Wage (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/49190824@N08/6791052120">PropagandaTimes</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've found myself avoiding online debates over the recent drive to increase the minimum wage. Not due to any decrease in my beliefs or convictions, but because it's just so exhausting.<br />
<br />
Then again, debating anything that has become divided opinion-wise along ideological lines is an uphill climb lately. Thanks to the advances of internet search engines and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media" rel="wikipedia" title="Social media">social media</a> sharing, we've all becoming experts in selective research. Our access to information has grown exponentially over the past couple of decades, and so has our ability to cherry-pick the facts that best support our beliefs. We're not more informed, we're just better armed to rationalize our beliefs.<br />
<br />
This isn't a new complaint, of course. The more access to alternate news sources there are, the more there are people whining about there being too many alternate news sources. The noise about <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_technology" rel="wikipedia" title="Information technology">information technologies</a> catering to the individual is probably just as loud as the noise over saving <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality" rel="wikipedia" title="Net neutrality">Net Neutrality</a>, so I really don't have anything new to bring to the table in that regard. You find your statistics to back your side of the argument, and I'll find those that buttress mine.<br />
<br />
It's an especially frustrating forfeit with this particular topic, as those arguing against raising the minimum wage tend to rely on erroneous or outright contradictory "facts." My favorites are the ones who will claim that raising the minimum wage is unnecessary because only a small percentage of the workforce actually earns minimum wage, then turn around and declare that increasing the minimum wage will destroys small businesses and cause retail and service prices to skyrocket. So it's an issue that is both small enough to be ignored, yet massive enough to destroy the very fabric of our economy.<br />
<br />
Of course, the scare tactic that claims raising the minimum wage will make your <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walmart" rel="wikipedia" title="Walmart">Walmart</a> shopping trip twice as expensive is not only inherently greedy, but patently false. More intellectually dishonest is the claim regarding the small minority of minimum wage workers, which feeds off of select data included in recent government studies that shows the minimum wage workforce at around 6%. These claims are technically true, but completely ignore employees earning only a fraction more than the minimum wage. If you look at labor studies for the number of full-time wage earners working for under $10 an hour (the proposed <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage" rel="wikipedia" title="Minimum wage">federal minimum wage</a>, which comes to roughly $20,000 a year), that number of undervalued employees skyrockets to 26% of the workforce. The Small Business and Higher Price-tag arguments, on the other hand, intentionally ignore that the biggest minimum wage (and just above minimum wage) employers are the major retail and fast food chains that constantly record profits in the billions - billions earned with the sweat of the low-wage laborer. The fact that most of these same corporate empires have seen increased profits due to more of the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_poor" rel="wikipedia" title="Working poor">working poor</a> being forced to buy their cheap shit, and that more and more of their minimum wage employees are also forced to enroll in government aid programs, is an additional irony that they tend to overlook as well. And we haven't even gotten into stagnant wages against CEO bonuses and the rate of inflation.<br />
<br />
But again, it's pointless submitting any of this as evidence, because if you just don't like the idea of the minimum wage being increased to $10, you can easily find some think tank study that predicts Armageddon if low-wage workers are paid "more than they're worth," and if you're really unlucky, they might start throwing <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20target=%22_blank%22%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/Ayn-Rand/e/B000APYGIW/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=theoffwebofsm-20&linkId=PWBFXMZAZ5P7GXB2%22%3EName%20Your%20Link%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theoffwebofsm-20&l=ur2&o=1%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Ayn Rand</a> quotes at you.<br />
<br />
<i>Quick tip: If someone ever confronts you with a quote from <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003V8B5XO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003V8B5XO&linkCode=as2&tag=theoffwebofsm-20&linkId=UIWGXFK5EIFK4F7K%22%3EAtlas%20Shrugged:%20(Centennial%20Edition)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=theoffwebofsm-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003V8B5XO%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Atlas Shrugged</a>, feign interest and ask to borrow their copy of the book, then beat them over the head with it until they cry and run away (does not work with eBook versions).</i><br />
<br />
So what do you do? Abandon your ideals? I am a firm believer in raising the minimum wage. I have worked as middle management in both corporate retail and small business service industry, and in both instances I have seen abuse and dismissal of a workforce that is vital to the very existence of these successful businesses. I have seen hours intentionally kept below full-time to avoid employee benefits, I have seen intentional under-staffing followed by increased workloads without additional compensation, and I have even seen flagrant violations of federal labor laws regarding the tracking of payroll hours and compensation for overtime work. I have worked alongside the people affected by these inhumane practices, and I am morally opposed to how these people are being treated by their employers.<br />
<br />
Maybe morality is how this battle needs to be waged (pun intended). Perhaps if we stop drying to dig up reports that attempt to statistically prove our point, maybe we just need to start point out that paying a living wage to employees responsible for the company's profit is just "the right thing to do." Do we seriously want our country, which some would (falsely) argue was founded on Christian principles, to allow business owners to exploit the working poor? If hard work is to be glorified as a national principle, isn't it fair that we reward that hard work as well?<br />
<br />
I don't know. Maybe you just can't debate somebody who is dead-set against anything that would enable somebody to benefit from something they can't get themselves. What can you say to the guy making enough to support his own family when the only reason he's against somebody else being paid enough to feed their own children is because he doesn't want to feel any less special. How do you expand the world view of people struggling to maintain their myopic outlook? If somebody is willing to suppress the earning power of retail workers just so they can save twenty-five cents on a lawn chair, is the moral argument actually going to sway them?<br />
<br />
It's all very frustrating. If it wasn't for the fact that morality has been slowly winning out over the years when it comes to civil rights, marriage equality, and maybe even immigration, I'd probably be completely despondent. But progress is evident, even when your cousin on Facebook is willing to make political campaign contributions in order to ensure that the person serving him his food can't afford to purchase a healthy meal of their own. There's still hope. Sometimes, occasionally, real morality wins.<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2014-05-12/livable-wages-working-families/more-than-a-million-reasons-for-pa-minimum-wage-hike/a39304-1" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/270516809_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2014-05-12/livable-wages-working-families/more-than-a-million-reasons-for-pa-minimum-wage-hike/a39304-1" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">More Than a Million Reasons For PA Minimum-Wage Hike</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/14/smallbusiness/minimum-wage-washington-jobs/index.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/271137215_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/14/smallbusiness/minimum-wage-washington-jobs/index.html" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Washington state defies minimum wage logic</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://247wallst.com/economy/2014/05/13/vermont-raises-minimum-wage-to-10-10/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/270839081_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://247wallst.com/economy/2014/05/13/vermont-raises-minimum-wage-to-10-10/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vermont Raises Minimum Wage to $10.10</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://talkingunion.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/the-minimum-wage-is-really-an-efficiency-wage/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/259247907_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://talkingunion.wordpress.com/2014/03/24/the-minimum-wage-is-really-an-efficiency-wage/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Minimum Wage is Really an Efficiency Wage</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://palamas.info/doing-justice-for-the-low-wage-worker/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_111_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://palamas.info/doing-justice-for-the-low-wage-worker/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Doing Justice for the Low Wage Worker</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://horsesass.org/seattle-is-wealthy-enough-to-pay-human-service-workers-a-living-wage/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/268925531_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://horsesass.org/seattle-is-wealthy-enough-to-pay-human-service-workers-a-living-wage/" style="background-image: none; display: block; height: 83px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Seattle Is Wealthy Enough to Pay Human Service Workers a Living Wage</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=c968449b-6c21-494e-bd1c-d8e85c303b7e" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-59044229969931230522013-10-08T09:47:00.000-04:002013-10-08T09:47:30.854-04:0010/8/13: Baby Heads, Children, and Punctuation<b><u>Illustrate my dreams, Part 1</u></b><br />
<br />
Last night, I had a dream that I was in this big baby making factory, and the babies were these little premature things lined up in shallow plastic trays like hatching beds. They even acted like newly hatched baby chicks, craning their necks and crying at the sky. I began amusing myself by leaning over these baby trays and laughing at the rows of baby heads, some more deformed than others, which would result in them laughing in return, and so I found myself going up and down these rows of trays, creating a sea of laughing, smiling baby heads. Then, out of nowhere appears a large baby factory mascot, this large evil-looking clown, and on the end of his left arm instead of a hand is a giant deformed baby head. It's big and round, like a large flesh-colored balloon, and in the center of it is this scrunched, pinched-faced, snaggletoothed baby face, its face contorting and twisting as the mouth opens and shuts like it is trying to scream, only no sound is coming out. Needless to say, I immediately have somebody take my picture with the baby factory mascot.<br />
<br />
Anybody want to draw that picture for me?<br />
<br />
<b><u>Other People's Children, Part 1</u></b><br />
<br />
There is something about raising children that seems to damage specific portions of the brain in a majority of parents. I am convinced any detailed clinical study would show the perception areas of the brain to be those portions most severely impacted.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:McDonalds_Happy_Meal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="McDonalds Happy Meal" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="225" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/McDonalds_Happy_Meal.jpg/300px-McDonalds_Happy_Meal.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">McDonalds Happy Meal (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:McDonalds_Happy_Meal.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm in line for breakfast during my on-campus residency this morning, and I slide my tray down the wooden cafeteria shelf until I come to a woman getting breakfast for her and her daughter. She has her daughter standing next to her, and she has two take-out trays opened and lined up next to one another while the cafeteria patron grabs food for them, so they are taking up a good four or five feet of counter space.<br />
<br />
Now, this is not a rant against the woman taking up the space in the first place, or about having to wait for her to have her meal hand-picked by the kitchen staff. It's her cafeteria just as much as it is mine, and I'm not in any kind of mad rush to get breakfast. I can wait, and I do so quietly and patiently. When the mother notices me there, she looks up and acknowledges my presence like I would hope she would, but then instead of apologizing by saying something simple like "Sorry, I'll just be a minute," she comes out with "Oh, it's okay, you can go around us."<br />
<br />
Oh, may I? That's great, thank you ever so much. I was just wondering what to do when I came upon you and your spawn effectively blocking a third of the buffet line, thank heaven you helped clarify my options. My standing there was obviously just a result of confusion or overly polite manners, and not directly related to you being camped out in front of the five different varieties of eggs currently available this morning. Now that you've given me permission to simply go around you, I'll just be on my way to enjoy a breakfast of bacon and vegan sausage patties.<br />
<br />
There is something misfiring in those regions of the brain dedicated to perceiving and understanding their surroundings. They and their children are simply "there," and it is merely up to the rest of the world to "go around them" and go about its business. But they and their children are not just "There." They are in the fucking way. They are blocking, impeding, obstructing, or otherwise preventing the rest of us from doing what we want or need to do. And on the surface there is nothing wrong with that. But when these parents fail to see or understand that they are in the way, that is when the system begins to crumble. That's when they start taking two-year-olds to the movies, or take their twin strollers and cargo bags full of wet naps and cheerios into the narrow aisles of shops because they want to browse the knickknacks with Cornelius and Escobar in tow, or spend fifteen minutes in front of you in the fast-food lane trying to convince little Janice to order something to eating instead of just ordering the kid a goddamn hamburger and making her eat it. Here's a tip, Mothers: if you still need to lock up cleaning supplies to prevent your child from poisoning itself, then they are too young to be making their own nutritional choices. Order the kid a happy meal and tell them to shut the fuck up and eat it. You and your children are not simply a part of the landscape, you are an obstacle, and the sooner you can least acknowledge that, the emotionally healthier we will all be.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Comma Chameleon</u></b><br />
<br />
My new adviser just informed me that I use too many commas. Well, shit.<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://1000awesomethings.com/2013/09/18/677-when-youre-awkwardly-standing-by-yourself-with-a-full-cafeteria-tray-of-food-and-then-suddenly-spot-your-friend-waving-at-you-2/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/203084484_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://1000awesomethings.com/2013/09/18/677-when-youre-awkwardly-standing-by-yourself-with-a-full-cafeteria-tray-of-food-and-then-suddenly-spot-your-friend-waving-at-you-2/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#677 When you're awkwardly standing by yourself with a full cafeteria tray of food and then suddenly spot your friend waving at you</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://throughthetigerseye.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/whine-and-dine/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/208991055_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://throughthetigerseye.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/whine-and-dine/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Whine and Dine</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://topinfopost.com/2013/10/06/a-baby-factory-just-opened-in-india-surrogate-mothers-will-carry-western-couples-babies-for-about-8000-usd" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/208795347_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://topinfopost.com/2013/10/06/a-baby-factory-just-opened-in-india-surrogate-mothers-will-carry-western-couples-babies-for-about-8000-usd" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A "Baby factory" just opened in India - Surrogate mothers will carry Western couples' babies for about 8,000 USD</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://thaimoto13.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/the-dinner-rush-phenomenon/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_43_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://thaimoto13.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/the-dinner-rush-phenomenon/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Dinner Rush Phenomenon</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=8b6c5639-52ed-44e8-8e16-9fa715533a53" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Road, Plainfield, VT 05667, USA44.278972200000013 -72.43809850000002444.267604200000015 -72.458268500000017 44.29034020000001 -72.417928500000031tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-6128437829929510532013-09-09T17:23:00.000-04:002013-09-09T17:23:18.608-04:009/9/13 - 101 Uses for a Living Severed Head<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aguste_Rodin._The_Severed_Head_of_Saint_John_the_Baptist%2C_ca_1887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Aguste Rodin. The Severed Head of Saint John t..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="227" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Aguste_Rodin._The_Severed_Head_of_Saint_John_the_Baptist%2C_ca_1887.jpg/300px-Aguste_Rodin._The_Severed_Head_of_Saint_John_the_Baptist%2C_ca_1887.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">Aguste Rodin. The Severed Head of Saint John the Baptist, ca 1887 (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aguste_Rodin._The_Severed_Head_of_Saint_John_the_Baptist%2C_ca_1887.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding-left: 3px;" valign="top">With the beginning of the 21st Century nearly upon us, technological advancements in the medical field are rapidly reaching heights never before imagined. Previously ridiculed pulp science fiction novel impossibilities such as cloning and bionic limbs are now becoming modern-day reality.<br /><br />One such advancement (although not one readily admitted to by the medical society) is the patented invention of a machine that now makes it possible to keep a human <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Severed_Head" rel="wikipedia" title="A Severed Head">severed head</a> alive indefinitely. The existence of this specific technology has been deemed both cruel and immoral by many groups, most of them arguing that not only is it a practically blasphemous application of medical life support, but that such a device would have no practical use.<br /><br />To those that have scoffed at this idea, the members of The Mongoloid Moose Think Tank say FOOEY!!! There are numerous uses for such a medical advancement, and we will stop at no end to prove it!<br /><br />So, in an attempt to squelch the complaints and protests put forth by these Frankenstein Destroyers, we submit this list of one hundred and one useful applications for a living severed head.<br /><br />Note: Most of the following suggestions have been made under the assumption that the technology will become advanced enough so that the life support equipment will be eventually condensed into a 7" wide metal disk attached to the neck of the severed head.<br /><br />1. Nifty Ashtray<br />2. Cool Fish Tank Decoration<br />3. Conversation Piece - Place it on your coffee table. Loads of fun!<br />4. Anti-Burglar Device<br />5. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_ornament" rel="wikipedia" title="Christmas ornament">Christmas Tree Decoration</a><br />6. Jack-O-Lantern<br />7. Pooper Scooper<br />8. TV Antenna<br />9. Bedpost<br />10. Shoe Shiner - Polish not included.<br />11. Emergency Replacement For Broken Busts<br />12. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tie_Rack" rel="wikipedia" title="Tie Rack">Tie Rack</a><br />13. Dust Rag<br />14. Hand Puppet<br />15. Banister Knob<br />16. Q-Tip Dispenser<br />17. Candlestick<br />18. Sheet Music Holder<br />19. Post-Modern Drink Coaster - Not just a regular coaster!<br />20. Pencil Sharpener<br />21. Paperweight<br />22. Economy Night Light - Some assembly required.<br />23. Police Siren<br />24. Hood Ornament<br />25. Lawn Mower<br />26. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_toy" rel="wikipedia" title="Sex toy">Marital Aid</a> - You figure it out.<br />27. Dust Rag<br />28. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pez" rel="wikipedia" title="Pez">Pez Dispenser</a><br />29. Battering Ram - Actually, it would be more of an attachment.<br />30. Crib Mobile<br />31. Bicycle Horn<br />32. Ventriloquist Dummy<br />33. Hole Puncher<br />34. Bottle Opener<br />35. Attach to pole to unscrew out of reach light bulbs - I'm sure there's a name for it, but I don't know it.<br />36. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cube" rel="wikipedia" title="Ice cube">Ice Cube Tray</a> Monitor – Put back an empty tray, get bitten.<br />37. Stamp Moistener<br />38. Device for conducting controlled tests to see how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Lollie-Pop<br />39. Rape Whistle - Rape not included.<br />40. Pin Cushion<br />41. Cookie Cutter - Makes bite-size cookies.<br />42. Doctor's Specimen Container - They can't all be cute and pretty, now can they?<br />43. Blow Dryer - It takes a while.<br />44. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_ornament" rel="wikipedia" title="Lawn ornament">Lawn Ornament</a><br />45. Door Stop<br />46. Primitive Blunt Weapon<br />47. Parking Meter<br />48. Wood Chipper<br />49. Oven Mitt<br />50. Bicycle Seat<br />51. Writer for Image Comics - 'Nuff Said!<br />52. Roach Motel<br />53. Mouse Trap<br />54. Book End<br />55. Jewelry Display<br />56. Soap Dish<br />57. Cheap alternative to Pet Parrot<br />58. Extra in Bluebeard Documentary<br />59. Pencil Holder<br />60. Paint Pallet<br />61. Horror Movie Prop<br />62. Co-Star on Baywatch<br />63. Eavesdropping Device<br />64. Chastity Belt - Back by popular demand!<br />65. Tooth Brush Holder<br />66. Poor Man's Mirror<br />67. Pool Toy<br />68. Drain Plug<br />69. Toilet Bowl Cleaner<br />70. Hat<br />71. Poor Man's Disguise Kit<br />72. Weather Vane - See also: Windsock.<br />73. Lightening Rod<br />74. Methane Gas Detector for sewer workers<br />75. <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locking_pliers" rel="wikipedia" title="Locking pliers">Vice Grip</a> Pliers<br />76. Baptism Practice Model<br />77. CPR Dummy<br />78. 9 Day Deodorant Pad<br />79. Change Purse<br />80. Q-Tip<br />81. Ice Cream Cone<br />82. Rear View Mirror Decoration<br />83. Vacuum Cleaner<br />84. Bathroom Attendant - You give him a quarter, take a mint... Come on, work with me!<br />85. Spare Horse Shoe<br />86. Lord Of The Flies - If you don't get it, you didn't finish High School<br />87. Desk Lamp<br />88. Poor Man's <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Potato_Head" rel="wikipedia" title="Mr. Potato Head">Mr. Potato Head</a><br />89. Maraca<br />90. Megaphone<br />91. Science Fair Project<br />92. Golf Tee<br />93. Lamp Post<br />94. Cannon Ball<br />95. Cool Medallion<br />96. Prop for St. John The Baptist play<br />97. Lassie stand-in<br />98. Spitball Sparring Partner<br />99. Third Base<br />100. Creepy Piñata<br />101. Hat Rack<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.livescience.com/39219-can-severed-head-live.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/197392013_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.livescience.com/39219-can-severed-head-live.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Can a Severed Head Live On?</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Teen+remote+control+helicopter+dies+from+severe+head+injury/8875761/story.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/199487438_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Teen+remote+control+helicopter+dies+from+severe+head+injury/8875761/story.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Teen hit by remote control helicopter dies from severe head injury</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.caribbean360.com/news/trinidad_tobago_news/1012451.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_75_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.caribbean360.com/news/trinidad_tobago_news/1012451.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Trinidad police find severed head of murdered man</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/archives/2013/08/16/mind-blown-medical-records-to-reissue-two-severed-heads-albums" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/194489621_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://lineout.thestranger.com/lineout/archives/2013/08/16/mind-blown-medical-records-to-reissue-two-severed-heads-albums" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Mind Blown: Medical Records to Reissue Two Severed Heads Albums</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-03/severed-human-head-sent-to-kenyas-police-commissioner/4931444" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/198779874_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-03/severed-human-head-sent-to-kenyas-police-commissioner/4931444" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Severed human head sent in box to Kenya police chief Johnston Kavaludi</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.toplessrobot.com/2013/08/severed_doll-head_bra_never_lets_you_forget_her_ey.php" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/190479959_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.toplessrobot.com/2013/08/severed_doll-head_bra_never_lets_you_forget_her_ey.php" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Severed Doll-Head Bra Never Lets You Forget Her Eyes Are up There</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=26897fd2-8379-4f83-808d-9144b53c7d0a" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-90861337753873170532013-08-20T08:45:00.000-04:002013-08-21T08:46:22.955-04:008/20/13 - Exclamation Point!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Achtung.svg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Warning sign." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="263" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Achtung.svg/300px-Achtung.svg.png" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">Warning sign. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Achtung.svg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I really hate people who feel the need to mark their emails as High Importance. Not once have I ever received a High Importance email that was any more important than the countless other emails filling my inbox. That little red exclamation point sticking out like a sore thumb on my Outlook screen doesn't scream <i>"Hurry, this is important!"</i> Instead, it just sticks out like a big red middle finger and says to me,<i> "Oh look, another self-important asshole who thinks their email holds greater precedence over anything else you might be receiving this morning. Also, they apparently don't trust you to read and respond to their email on your own, so have provided a handy visual aide to assist you in prioritizing your electronic correspondence. Best skip this one for now."</i> Unless you're warning me of an impending meteor strike or have some lab results that are going to rock my world (in which case I would assume a phone call would be more direct and productive), just leave your little "Look at Me!" alert in your bag of email tricks. Dick.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=d7021c46-02f2-40d6-873e-99672824eb18" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-15704693841907298972013-08-19T20:47:00.000-04:002013-08-19T22:00:40.210-04:00You Need to Shut Up. Now.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="zemanta-img">
<a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ThinkingMan_Rodin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="The Thinking Man sculpture at Musée Rodin in Paris" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/ThinkingMan_Rodin.jpg/300px-ThinkingMan_Rodin.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">The Thinking Man sculpture at Musée Rodin in Paris (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ThinkingMan_Rodin.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
People irritate me.<br />
<br />
I'm not proud of this. I don't wear it as a badge of honor in the way that others seem to with their religious beliefs or political convictions. But it can't be denied. People just have a tendency to annoy me.<br />
<br />
It's not because they don't think like me. I know plenty of people who hold opposing viewpoints on a variety of subjects, and only a small percentage of them ever truly get on my nerves. They can think whatever they want. At least they're <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought" rel="wikipedia" title="Thought">thinking</a>.<br />
<br />
Maybe that's what it is. These people, the ones who aggravate me on an almost primeval level, are the ones who just don't appear to be thinking. They'll argue to the contrary; they'll swear that they have thought things through, thought them out long and hard, before coming to think what they think.<br />
<br />
They're lying.<br />
<br />
They aren't think. They're mimicking. They're parroting. They're pretending to think by saying things they've heard other people say. Odds are, the people they are copying weren't thinking either. They just heard it from somewhere else. They might have added something there, but what they thought was a clever little twist on it. But they didn't think of it, either.<br />
<br />
People don't think anymore. They join. They agree. They choose up sides and shout what sounds like thoughts and ideas that they know their side will agree with, because there is comfort, safety, security in numbers. So the scream and the shout, they snicker and they jibe, they cajole and they retort with smug, smarmy, sarcastic grins displaying their joy in feeling that they've imparted some great wisdom or knowledge that they have earned through some sort of mental process that they would like to believe is thinking. But they haven't earned anything. They haven't deduced or discovered an great truth, have not realized or understood something on an intrinsic level. There is no revelation, no epiphany, no grand illumination.<br />
<br />
They're faking it.<br />
<br />
They're pretending because it feels good to know something, but can be so hard to gain that knowledge through thinking. And it feels so good, and they fake it so well, that they begin to think that they actually know. They don't know. They just think they know.<br />
<br />
And so they regurgitate platitudes and sayings and slogans and catch phrases, they cough them up and spit them in our faces because they think they sound clever, they think they sound smart, they feel, for once, that the know what they are talking about.<br />
<br />
These people need to stop talking.<br />
<br />
They need to stop posting, and commenting, and sharing. They need to stop cut-and-pasting their personalities and process the information that goes barreling through their heads for once. They need to stop chugging ideas and information like <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_drink" rel="wikipedia" title="Energy drink">energy drinks</a> and cheap beer, like dollar menu burgers and candy bars. They need to chew their information slowly, roll it around, experience the flavor, sample it slowly, and then, god willing, ingest it, absorb it, and convert it into a useful energy instead of vomiting it back up and attempting to feed it others like they were hungry birds seeking nourishment from their blackened, partially digested bile.<br />
<br />
They are not feeding the masses with their precious wisdom. They are spewing reprocessed swill in an attempt to be noticed and acknowledged despite having nothing worth being recognized for.<br />
<br />
They poison my air with every belch of false knowledge, sting my eyes and burn my throat with every rancid expulsion of what they attempt to pass off as their thoughts. They have no thoughts. The are empty vessels spilling waste, chattering bedpans unwilling to Try, yet desperate to Do.<br />
<br />
Stop talking. Start thinking. Before it's too late for all of us.<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://whatmesober.com/2013/08/18/thinkers-anonymous-2/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/194896311_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://whatmesober.com/2013/08/18/thinkers-anonymous-2/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Thinkers Anonymous</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://skepticalteacher.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/hilarious-lesson-in-critical-thinking-why-cant-you-use-phones-on-planes/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/194811158_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://skepticalteacher.wordpress.com/2013/08/18/hilarious-lesson-in-critical-thinking-why-cant-you-use-phones-on-planes/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Hilarious Lesson in Critical Thinking: "Why Can't You Use Phones on Planes?"</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://thechangeyourlifeblog.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/do-you-know-why-youre-thinking-what-youre-thinking/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_52_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://thechangeyourlifeblog.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/do-you-know-why-youre-thinking-what-youre-thinking/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Do you know 'why' you're thinking what you're thinking?</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://mattham.com/2013/08/15/thinking-thoughts/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/193991937_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://mattham.com/2013/08/15/thinking-thoughts/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Thinking Thoughts</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=be3fd254-6187-4464-b4d9-6418b6bc9abd" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-83767687745408073432013-03-12T09:35:00.000-04:002013-03-14T12:37:53.486-04:00Gay Boy Scout Quiz<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="zemanta-img">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23563006@N08/8492232801" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Boy Scouts of America" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="153" src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8366/8492232801_88fcdff5c9_m.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 240px;">Boy Scouts of America (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23563006@N08/8492232801">FeeBeeDee</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 13.5pt;">Recently, the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Scouts_of_America" rel="wikipedia" title="Boy Scouts of America">Boy Scouts of America</a> has come under fire by pro-<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay" rel="wikipedia" title="Gay">gay</a> <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activism" rel="wikipedia" title="Activism">activist groups</a> for not allowing openly gay individuals to participate in all of their Boy Scout fun and games. Their reaction to this growing pressure has been the gradual contemplation of removing these restrictions. This, of course, has caused them to come under fire by anti-gay activists for even thinking of </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">letting</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 13.5pt;"> gay people near weenie-roasts and tent-pitching. Because, you know, that shit's for <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexuality" rel="wikipedia" title="Heterosexuality">straight people</a>.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 13.5pt;">In an attempt to weakly rationalize any decision that they might make down the line, the BSA recently sent out a questionnaire asking Pack Leaders and Parents of Boy Scouts their feelings about how "acceptable" or "unacceptable" outdated bigotry is when it comes to club membership restrictions. Not willing to be left out of the conversation, I decided to way in on the survey myself, although with written answers in lieu of their Acceptability Range, which actually includes the choice "Neither Acceptable Nor Unacceptable." Nice choice, guys.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 13.5pt;">Anyway, here are "The Questions" as provided by</span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2013/03/boy-scouts-send-out-survey-to-pack-leaders-asking-opinion-on-anti-gay-policies-read-it.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #205b87; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Towleroad</span></a>, along with
answers as provided by yours truly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></i></b><!--[endif]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bob is 15 years old, and the only openly gay
Scout in a Boy Scout troop. Is it acceptable or unacceptable for the troop
leader to allow Bob to tent with a heterosexual boy on an overnight camping
trip?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The answer to this questions depends on whether Bob is
aggressively homosexual or merely passively gay, if the boy he is teamed up
with is actually a closeted homosexual, and whether Bob reacted to the sleeping
arrangements by repeatedly winking while making references to "Pitching a
tent together." <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></i></b><!--[endif]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tom started in the program as a Tiger Cub, and
finished every requirement for the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Scout_%28Boy_Scouts_of_America%29" rel="wikipedia" title="Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)">Eagle Scout Award</a> at 16 years of age. At his
board of review Tom reveals that he is gay. Is it acceptable or unacceptable
for the review board to deny his Eagle Scout award based on that admission?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Denying Tom his Eagle Scout award is only acceptable if his
secret <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality" rel="wikipedia" title="Homosexuality">homosexuality</a> somehow gave him an unfair advantage over other straight
members of the Tiger Club (which, incidentally, sounds like a gay bar)when it
came to completing his expected tasks. I've never been a member of the Boy
Scouts, so for all I know, homosexuality could very well be a Performance
Enhancing trait.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></i></b><!--[endif]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Johnny, a first grade boy, has joined Tiger
Cubs with his friends. Johnny’s friends and their parents unanimously nominate
Johnny’s mom, who is known by them to be lesbian, to be the den leader.
Johnny’s pack is chartered to a church where the doctrine of that faith does
not teach that homosexuality is wrong. Is it acceptable or unacceptable for his
mother to serve as a den leader for his Cub Scout den?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If Johnny's friends and their parents have no problem with a
Lesbian Den Leader, but the church chartering their pack considers her a
soulless deviant unworthy of such a position, maybe the better question should
be why these people are members of that church in the first place. Also, are
"pack" and "den" interchangeable? If not, how many packs
can be in a den, or is it multiple dens per pack?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--></b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>A troop is chartered by an organization that
does not believe homosexuality is wrong and allows gays to be ministers. The
youth minister traditionally serves as the Scoutmaster for the troop. The
congregation hires a youth minister who is gay. Is it acceptable or
unacceptable for this youth minister to serve as the Scoutmaster?</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Why is there a question in here with no conflict? The
organization is gay-friendly, the congregation is gay-friendly, and the youth
minister is gay, is it okay that the Scoutmaster is gay? What sense does this
question make? Everybody likes ice cream. Is it okay that people eat ice cream?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">David, a Boy Scout, believes that
homosexuality is wrong. His troop is chartered to a church where the doctrine
of that faith also teaches that homosexuality is wrong. Steve, an openly gay
youth, applies to be a member in the troop and is denied membership. Is it
acceptable or unacceptable for this troop to deny Steve membership in their
troop?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think a more important question is why Steve would want to belong
to a group funded by and populated with people who are predisposed to hate him,
and what the hell does David have to do with anything in this question?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--></b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>A gay male troop leader, along with another
adult leader, is taking a group of boys on a camping trip following the youth
protection guidelines of two-deep leadership. Is it acceptable or unacceptable
for the gay adult leader to take adolescent boys on an overnight camping trip?</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It should be fine as long as the gay male troop leader doesn't
confuse "two-deep" leadership with "too-deep" leadership.
Get it? That's an anal sex joke. Or an oral sex joke, depending which way you
swing. Besides that, however, if "two-deep leadership" is meant to
protect the youth, then wouldn't having the supposedly heterosexual adult
leader (the question never specifies whether the other leader is straight or
not) in tow prevent any gay shenanigans, or is it okay for the gay troop leader
to sodomize the attending youth as long as the other troop leader is there to
watch and make sure that he doesn't go "too-deep." Heh, I did it
again.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The current Boy Scouts of America
requirements, stated above, prohibit open homosexuals from being Scouts or
adult Scout leaders. To what extent do you support or oppose this requirement?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Can we just shorten this question to "Gays: Yea or
Nay?"<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--></b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Different organizations that charter Boy Scout
troops have different positions on the morality of homosexuality. Do you support
or oppose allowing charter organizations to follow their own beliefs when
selecting Boy Scout members and adult leaders, if that means there will be
different standards from one organization to the next?</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This raises an even better question: Is it wise for an
organization, such as the BSA, to allow organizations without diametrically
opposing moral standards to charter groups within the organization? For an
organization so high and might about moral values, they sure do seem willing to
whore themselves out to anybody willing to "charter" a group.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--></b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>What is your greatest concern if the policy remains
in place and openly gay youth and adults are prohibited from joining Scouting?</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Personally, none. I am neither gay nor a Boy Scout ( a fact for
which both groups are most likely thankful), and am therefore not directly
affected one way or the other, other than the fostering of the righteous
indignation that I naturally feel against any organization that attempts to
rationalize otherwise bigoted or socially ignorant restrictive policies.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is your greatest concern if the policy is
changed to allow charter organizations to make their own decisions to admit
openly gay Scouts and leaders?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That there will be one less thing to make fun of the Boy Scouts
about.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--></b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Do you believe the current policy prohibiting
open homosexuals from being Scouts or adult Scout leaders is a core value of
Scouting found in the Scout Oath and Law?</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A better question might be, whether or not the policy is upheld
by Scout Oath and Law, if that policy is right or wrong regardless. Again, for
a group so big on morality, they do manage to avoid Right and Wrong altogether
with their concerns over the "acceptable" and
"unacceptable" nature of their policies. Are we concerned about
morality here, or finding loopholes in club regulations?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--></b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>If the Boy Scouts of America makes a decision
on this policy that disagrees with your own view, will you continue to
participate in the Boy Scouts, or will you leave the organization?</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In as much as I have up until now? Most definitely.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i><!--[endif]--></b><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>How likely is it that you would recommend
volunteering in the Scouting program to other friends or acquaintances?</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-left: 60pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not very likely. But that's just me.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">After having gone through the questionnaire, I felt that the
scenarios and decisions offered by the BSA fell short in truly addressing the
issue at hand. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of suggesting a few Additional
Questions of my own:<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"><b>
</b></span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Raymond
is openly homosexual, but a celibate pastor at the local Unitarian church. Archibald,
on the other hand, is a vocally heterosexual father of three, but was recently caught
masturbating to a Justin Bieber video. Both are applying for Troop Leader.
Which one is better qualified to teach your children how to tie knots?<o:p></o:p></b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do
you feel that allowing homosexuals into the Boy Scouts of America with
positively or negatively impact the organization's goofy-ass uniforms? <o:p></o:p></span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Rate the following items as either Not Gay,
Kinda Gay, Definitely Gay, Very Gay, or Way Gay:</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>a.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Camping</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>b.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Nature</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>c.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Paisley</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>d.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Neckerchiefs</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>e.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Knee-High Shorts</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>f.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Accessorizing</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>g.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Badges</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>h.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Pitching Tents</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>i.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Stacking Wood</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>j.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Webelos </b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>k.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Anal sex</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.5in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->How Gay is Too Gay? Provide examples.</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i><b>5.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Matthew is attracted to young boys because their
lack of secondary sex characteristics makes them look more feminine. Does this
make Matthew too gay to be a scout leader, or not gay enough to shun?</b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
No need to thank me. Seriously, it's the least I could do.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://wreg.com/2013/03/13/boy-scouts-issue-gay-survey/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/152094808_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://wreg.com/2013/03/13/boy-scouts-issue-gay-survey/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Boy Scouts Put Out Survey About Gay Policies</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/03/11/boy-scouts-of-america-distributes-survey-on-gay-ban/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/151566801_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/03/11/boy-scouts-of-america-distributes-survey-on-gay-ban/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Boy Scouts of America Distributes Survey on Gay Ban</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/13/17297889-can-a-gay-boy-scout-share-a-tent-with-another-boy-boy-scouts-survey-members-on-anti-gay-policy%3Flite&a=152029999&rid=271107f7-4f56-402e-87e9-356fac0105d2&e=5ed028e3bcd1d6ac8cd338ce2a6183b5" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/152029999_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/13/17297889-can-a-gay-boy-scout-share-a-tent-with-another-boy-boy-scouts-survey-members-on-anti-gay-policy%3Flite&a=152029999&rid=271107f7-4f56-402e-87e9-356fac0105d2&e=5ed028e3bcd1d6ac8cd338ce2a6183b5" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Can gay child share tent? Boy Scouts survey members</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/03/11/boy-scouts-send-out-despicable-survey-questioning-parents-and-troops-about-gay-scenarios/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/151525488_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/03/11/boy-scouts-send-out-despicable-survey-questioning-parents-and-troops-about-gay-scenarios/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Boy Scouts Send Out Despicable Survey Questioning Parents And Troops About Gay Scenarios</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2013/03/boy-scouts-of-america-creates-scenarios-surveys-members-and-parents-whether-to-keep-gay-ban.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/151801852_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2013/03/boy-scouts-of-america-creates-scenarios-surveys-members-and-parents-whether-to-keep-gay-ban.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Boy Scouts of America creates scenarios, surveys members and parents whether to keep gay ban</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=271107f7-4f56-402e-87e9-356fac0105d2" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-73623827035951662422012-12-06T19:47:00.000-05:002012-12-06T19:47:01.603-05:00My Life in Video Games: Pong (1972, Atari)<br />
Recently, I've found myself looking rather closely at the video games I play these days, and contemplating how drastically they've changed in the last thirty or forty years, and what it was that I apparently spent hours upon hours playing back in the old days. Just thinking back and comparing some of them led me to the idea of tracking my life by the video games I have played over the years. Not just any video games appearing on the timeline since my birth, mind you, but specific ones that I have special memories of, or that consumed massive amounts of hours of my childhood (and adulthood) over the years. I'm not a gaming geek or a tech head, mind you. Just somebody that grew up in the culture of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game" rel="wikipedia" title="Video game">electronic entertainment</a>, and was lucky enough to be born into the era of Video Games.<br />
<br />
I'm so lucky, in fact (if you can call it that), that I can trace the beginning of my interest in video games back to the beginning of video games themselves. Or, more precisely, My first video game was the world's first video game: <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pong" rel="wikipedia" title="Pong">Pong</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pDrRnJOCKZc?fs=1" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
That's right, I'm old enough to remember Pong. And the only thing that makes me feel old more than saying "I'm old enough to remember Pong" is when I say "I'm old enough to remember Pong," and somebody old enough to drive says "What in the hell is Pong?"<br />
<br />
I was born the year after Pong hit the shelves, and my parents, young and married freshly out of High School, owned a Pong system. I remember playing it on a small, round, silver television with built-in rabbit ears on a rotating base; it looked like a robot head, and Google refuses to find a picture of it for me, no matter combination of search criteria I enter. The system had switches that allowed to change the size of the "paddles" and, I believe, the speed of the ball. I also recall that you could switch between two or three different Pong-related games, whatever the hell those were, but for the most part that switch stayed set to Pong. The controls, which we also called paddles, and which I also can't find a picture of, were hand grips with a big wheel on top that you would twist to move their namesakes on screen. Years after the pong system was defunct, the weird dial-topped hand grips served as props for many imaginary childhood games. I guess as far as controllers go, we've come full circle with the Wii.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how old I was, but I was definitely very young, since the new age of video gaming was right around the corner. But I do still remember playing for hours on end, entertained simply by the notion that <i>I was controlling what was happening on the screen</i>. There were even <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg_%28media%29" rel="wikipedia" title="Easter egg (media)">Easter Eggs</a> in Pong, so to speak; there was a certain thrill in getting the paddles to line up just right, so that the ball would bounce back and forth on its own, stuck in loop produced by the low-rent electronic duplication of physics.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atari_Super_Pong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Atari Super Pong (model C-140) - Firs..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="205" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/Atari_Super_Pong.jpg/300px-Atari_Super_Pong.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">English: Atari Super Pong (model C-140) - First era console of 1976. It has 4 Pong games (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Atari_Super_Pong.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The mind reels at the lack of choice involved with setting up a game. These days, you can spend hours creating characters, sometimes worlds, before settling down to business. With Pong, the only decision you need to make with your gaming partner was who would be sitting on the left or right. There weren't even colors to choose from! That's right: challenging somebody to a game of checkers involved more decisions than squaring of on a Pong tournament.<br />
<br />
Forget the minimalist black-and-white playing fields, what about the audio? Video games today have their own soundtracks, and ambient background noises can sound like they're coming from right behind you. What did you listen to while playing Pong? Just a steady, almost metronome rhythm of electronic beeps whenever the electronic ball bounced off a paddle or the walls of your television screen. They didn't even bother trying to make it a pleasant sound, they just through in an electronic bleating that almost sounded like an alarm clock trying to wake you up one beat at a time. Maybe it's because I was still too young to appreciate a good stereo system, but never even occurred to me to listen to music when I played. Just me and some other giddily tortured soul, staring intently at moving white dots and lines for hours on end, listening to the beeps as if they were an integral part of the game.<br />
<br />
It's almost not fair to compare Pong with today's cornucopia of ultra-realistic video games. There are a lot of things from the seventies that seem completely ridiculous now (in fairness, some of them were), especially when it comes to electronics and entertainment media. It's easy to overlook the importance of the wheel's invention when today's concerns focus on miles per gallon (highway) or fossil fuel versus green energy. Then again, kids do tend to amuse easily, so maybe I'm making too much out of it. But yeah, I rocked the paddles big-time way back then. Thus was born the first generation of Video <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamer" rel="wikipedia" title="Gamer">Gamers</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/gaming/in-the-beginning-there-was-the-game-and-the-game-was-pong-20121201-2ao4l.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/129391906_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/gaming/in-the-beginning-there-was-the-game-and-the-game-was-pong-20121201-2ao4l.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">In the beginning there was the game and the game was Pong</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://tagn.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/pong-is-40-today/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/129019596_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://tagn.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/pong-is-40-today/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pong is 40 Today</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/ingame/six-ways-celebrate-pongs-40th-anniversary-1C7332326" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/129056417_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/ingame/six-ways-celebrate-pongs-40th-anniversary-1C7332326" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Six ways to celebrate Pong's 40th anniversary</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.blogher.com/snippets/pong-game-goes-mega" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/127820867_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.blogher.com/snippets/pong-game-goes-mega" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pong Game Goes Mega</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://hothardware.com/News/Atari-Offers-up-Custom-Xbox-360-and-New-iOS-Pong-Game-to-Celebrate-40th-Anniversary/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/129150852_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://hothardware.com/News/Atari-Offers-up-Custom-Xbox-360-and-New-iOS-Pong-Game-to-Celebrate-40th-Anniversary/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Atari Offers up Custom Xbox 360 and New iOS Pong Game to Celebrate 40th Anniversary</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11/30/atari-celebrates-pong-anniversary_n_2216752.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/129178903_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/11/30/atari-celebrates-pong-anniversary_n_2216752.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">WATCH: Atari Celebrates Pong Anniversary By Releasing... Pong</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=44aaf81d-3e97-4789-b61f-2372e85d5747" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-68343403523715498682012-11-02T11:55:00.000-04:002012-11-02T11:56:32.533-04:0011/2/12: Are You Better Off Now?: An Election ResponseIt's a question that Romney supporters are fond of throwing around smugly, one of those supposedly undeniable truth statements that are supposed to stop you in your tracks because there is no way to answer it without admitting that the person asking is correct in their assumptions. In this case, the assumption is that Obama hasn't made anything better in America. It's a weird about-face, as it is usually the incumbent asking the question as way of underlining how good they've been at their job.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9-hwfx15hKitWd_UDnzg8oVVay3CnFpNNzL99QxVJs_vLvpssEWppKvpW88xwZmqU27uW1HPOdOR4J8-LkSxv7XILOix9fiGj9hyphenhyphen7AkTUBUbCci5rzLdY-LVU41QHjfxKF2IHwhdiiQW/s1600/screenshot-areyoubetter-slide.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9-hwfx15hKitWd_UDnzg8oVVay3CnFpNNzL99QxVJs_vLvpssEWppKvpW88xwZmqU27uW1HPOdOR4J8-LkSxv7XILOix9fiGj9hyphenhyphen7AkTUBUbCci5rzLdY-LVU41QHjfxKF2IHwhdiiQW/s320/screenshot-areyoubetter-slide.JPG" width="320" /></a>Since we are only days away from the 2012 Presidential Elections, I'm feeling rather motivated to actually answer this question. The last four years haven't been especially easy for anybody not in the top 10% (you know, the people who own the country, it seems), but I think it's fair to answer the question on an individual bases, considering that the question is meant to motivate my individual vote.<br />
<br />
Anyway, comparing November 2008 with November 2012, am I better off now than I was four years ago?<br />
<br />
Four years ago, I was:<br />
<br />
<i>*Laid off after fifteen years with the same company, because the sudden economic downturn crippled the entire industry in a matter of months.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>*Subsequently laid up with the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza" rel="wikipedia" title="Swine influenza">Swine Flu</a> for a month (Happy Holidays!) with no medical insurance.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>*Suddenly stuck with not being able to afford classes after having started attending college night classes again the previous year.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>*Living in a house suddenly worth $30,000 less than it was two years ago.</i><br />
<br />
Today, I am:<br />
<br />
<i>*Working for a new small business owner that isn't squeamish about hiring new employees during an Obama presidency, despite all Right Wing claims to the contrary.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>*Still in possession of my house, thanks in part to extended federal unemployment benefits that helped me to stay afloat for the year and a half I was unemployed, and helped me stay financially intact enough so that I was prepared to survive the year and a half I was forced to work for an exploitative business owner who denied his employees federally-protected overtime pay and made <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.history.com/topics/labor-day" rel="historycom" title="Labor Day">Labor Day</a> a non-payed holiday.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>*One class away from obtaining my degree, thanks to Obama's improvements to the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pell_Grant" rel="wikipedia" title="Pell Grant">Pell Grant</a> system, including allowing Unemployment benefits to be disregarded when calculating Pell Grant eligibility.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>*Living in a state that was ravaged by a hurricane (ironically sharing the name of the employer that laid me off four years ago), and seeing my state survive and recover from the disaster with the help of immediately received support from <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.fema.gov/" rel="homepage" title="Federal Emergency Management Agency">FEMA</a>, the organization that Romney has gleefully contemplated defunding in past interviews.</i><br />
<br />
Is everything 100% better or back to normal four years later? Of course not. I'm still without medical insurance, and the medical insurance I will be eligible for soon will undoubtedly cost me more than it did when I last had it. Also, I love my new job, but I'm still not close to restoring my financial situation to what it once was, and real estate values still haven't recovered enough for my mortgage lose its underwater status.<br />
<br />
But am I better off than I was four years ago, unemployed at the beginning of the worst recession since the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression" rel="historycom" title="The Great Depression">Great Depression</a>, licked to the curb by my career occupation at a time in which College Graduates and Six-Figure-Salary professionals were already begging for entry-level positions, sick with an as-of-yet undiagnosed pig disease as I watched Obama being sworn into office?<br />
<br />
You bet your ass I am.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://strangelandpod.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-real-reason-behind-romneys-fake.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/122749531_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://strangelandpod.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-real-reason-behind-romneys-fake.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The REAL Reason Behind Romney's Fake Donation Drive</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/rg/rss/news/news/ni38766824/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_119_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.imdb.com/rg/rss/news/news/ni38766824/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Anti-obama Filmmaker Embroiled In Scandal</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2012/11/october_jobless_rate_is_79_per.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_15_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2012/11/october_jobless_rate_is_79_per.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">October jobless rate is 7.9 percent: 171,000 jobs created. Good news for Obama</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/scholarships-and-grants/what-is-a-pell-grant" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/118010867_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/scholarships-and-grants/what-is-a-pell-grant" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pay for College - What Is a Pell Grant?</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/170623/romneys-seven-biggest-debate-lies" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/119251767_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/170623/romneys-seven-biggest-debate-lies" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Romney's Seven Biggest Debate Lies</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/10/preconceived-notions-and-police.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/115985926_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/10/preconceived-notions-and-police.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Preconceived Notions and Police Brutality</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=b53f5636-bf94-45ed-9986-ddaae33ef4e3" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-76686485523321091162012-10-02T12:17:00.001-04:002012-10-02T12:17:44.713-04:00Preconceived Notions and Police BrutalityYesterday, I wrote a bit about how a growing number of people these are more and more inclined to dig their heels in and defend core <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belief" rel="wikipedia" title="Belief">beliefs</a> defiantly, regardless of any facts or situations presented to them. Not that people are using their beliefs to inform their judgement, but are doubling down on their belief systems as the only contributing factor that matters. This morning, I find this in my news feed:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KsTP7JhfVGc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
In the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media" rel="wikipedia" title="Social media">social media</a> dominated culture that we find ourselves increasingly immersed in, my immediate reaction is to share this with other people. This need to share it isn't just about internet Memes or Viral Videos: it is part of our natural human need to bond with others by giving them the opportunity to share in our emotional response. But in doing so, I am also assuming that those I share this video with are going to share my emotional response. Which brings me back to beliefs informing opinions, instead of the other way around.<br />
<br />
I have the great misfortune of having a large group of online friends with diverse philosophical backgrounds. I say misfortune because I often find myself dragged into social, political, theological or ideological debates when either making posts or commenting on the posts of others. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the debates, and actually have an unnatural inclination for intellectual head-butting. But an overabundance of unplanned online arguments can be time consuming and exhausting.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Police_brutality.svg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="A silhouette showing a police officer striking..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="211" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Police_brutality.svg/300px-Police_brutality.svg.png" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But that's neither here nor there. However, when I consider posting this video, I do so with the clear knowledge that I am able to fully predict the responses this video is going to illicit from a decent number of my online posse. There are those I know will express outage at an obvious example of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_brutality" rel="wikipedia" title="Police brutality">police brutality</a>, and there are others that will gladly support the actions of a law enforcement veteran doing what needs to be done in order to quell an unruly mob. Without even exposing them to the video, to the actual physical evidence of the topic at hand, I can safely predict their responses.<br />
<br />
Now, is this necessarily a bad thing? Maybe not. Obviously, those inclined to side with law enforcement are more likely to give police the benefit of the doubt, while those more fearful of government restriction are going to be less understanding. But how reality-based can either position be if the conclusions are drawn beforehand? I'm not questioning the validity of either argument, but rather, the validity of an argument that might possibly be impervious to outside influences. If our minds are made up before even approaching a situation, how objective can we truly consider ourselves? And if our initial reaction is always to accuse the other side of doing just this, how sure can we be that our own judgement is just as clouded?<br />
<br />
I'm not saying we shouldn't trust our own opinions. What I'm suggesting is that we be more aware of what is informing them.<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//abcnews.go.com/US/philadelphia-cop-punches-woman-face-knocks/story%3Fid%3D17366688&a=115753348&rid=117d6ede-de09-462a-9c25-0634a05263f1&e=00bca6e288b07efe91b269070896b0a0" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/115753348_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//abcnews.go.com/US/philadelphia-cop-punches-woman-face-knocks/story%3Fid%3D17366688&a=115753348&rid=117d6ede-de09-462a-9c25-0634a05263f1&e=00bca6e288b07efe91b269070896b0a0" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Cop Probed For Punching Woman in Face</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2012/09/30/viral-video-elements/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/115578540_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2012/09/30/viral-video-elements/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Viral Video Elements</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/intense-emotions-and-strong-feelings/201208/do-emotions-lie" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_17_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/intense-emotions-and-strong-feelings/201208/do-emotions-lie" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Do Emotions Lie?</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.lockergnome.com/news/2012/09/19/what-makes-internet-memes-so-popular/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_1_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.lockergnome.com/news/2012/09/19/what-makes-internet-memes-so-popular/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">What Makes Internet Memes So Popular?</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/10/you-cant-fix-stupid.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/115792899_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://scottsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/10/you-cant-fix-stupid.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">You Can't Fix Stupid</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://godfaithandreason.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/how-is-religious-belief-justified/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/111396672_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://godfaithandreason.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/how-is-religious-belief-justified/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Justification and Belief in General</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://inmyanguish.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/neo-belief-and-the-will-to-believe/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_35_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://inmyanguish.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/neo-belief-and-the-will-to-believe/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Neo-belief..and the will to believe</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=117d6ede-de09-462a-9c25-0634a05263f1" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-55232603759350162312012-10-01T17:24:00.000-04:002012-10-01T17:24:08.269-04:00You Can't Fix Stupid<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
I just turned a year older recently. I won't underscore the actual age, but I will say that I've reached that sad point in an individual's life in which the act of documenting birthdays becomes less an exercise in counting up and more an act of counting down. The "Best" of my years may not necessarily be behind me, but it is now becoming painfully possible that the majority of them are definitely accounted for.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Weird_Al_Yankovic_-_Dare_to_Be_Stupid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Dare to Be Stupid" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="310" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5c/Weird_Al_Yankovic_-_Dare_to_Be_Stupid.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 200px;">Dare to Be Stupid (Photo credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Weird_Al_Yankovic_-_Dare_to_Be_Stupid.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This isn't meant to gripe about aging, even though that is still rather high on my list of pet peeves. But age tends to bring with it some modicum of wisdom or insight, and I've been debating with one that I have difficulty coming to terms with. I've always been of the mind that you can't change a person's firmly held beliefs, as belief usually defies logic, and stands firmly on the unshakable foundation of moral or ideological stubbornness. A person doesn't believe in something because they think it is true. They believe in something because they need it to be true, and need will win out almost every time. But again, I've always believed that, and have never had trouble with that realization. Lately, however, I find myself vexed by a continuation of this thought:<br />
<br />
You can't make stupid people smarter.<br />
<br />
Let me clarify. You can educate the uneducated. You can inform the uninformed. And you can most certainly convince the unconvinced, if their lack of belief can be traced to a sincere deficit or error in logic. But there are a large number of people in the world today who are beyond the point of no return intellectually, where no thought processes or information will no longer take hold. Now, I'm not going to claim that this is news to me, but where I find myself at odds with myself is the line where I'm willing to allow that beliefs stop and stupidity starts.<br />
<br />
Yes, political and religious differences tend to be a common source of this concern, but the line didn't start shifting until I realized that stupid people are more prone to regard their own ignorance as belief, hence blurring the lines even further. The phrases "That's your opinion," and "<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_entitled_to_my_opinion" rel="wikipedia" title="I'm entitled to my opinion">I'm entitled to my opinion</a>," for example, seem to pop up more and more often in defense of otherwise idiotic or indefensible stances taken. Whereas this reply usually makes the most sense when used after all logical debate still results in an intellectual stalemate, it now tends to be thrown out haphazardly whenever an argument is countered by a fact not readily refutable. There is no consideration, there is no weighing of points and counterpoints, there is simply "This is what I think!" No more ground will be given, regardless of the argument presented.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's a good thing that people are becoming more and more willing to stand up for what they believe in. Then again, if their belief is earned by nothing more than convenience, then what is the true value of the belief being fought over? What good is defending a political or religious belief when the motivation of the conviction has more to do with your comfort level than it does philosophical analysis. Americans continue to praise belief and morality, causes and ideologies, while at the same time rejecting education or higher learning as just an intellectually elitist way to obscure the truth rather than reveal it. We've embraced the life of the mind, but rejected the notion of developing or nurturing its usage.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to give into typical middle-aged paranoia and claim that the number of these people is on the rise. But there is a large number of them out there, enough so that they not only manage to have an effect on popular culture and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norm_%28social%29" rel="wikipedia" title="Norm (social)">social norms</a>, but in public and civil policy as well. And this, as they say, is where we're screwed. Polarization between portions of the country along religious and political lines becomes more and more commonplace as information sources cater more and more to these clashing factions, producing selective information meant to pacify and coddle, and not inform or improve.<br />
<br />
I hate reducing some of the world's problems to such a simplistic viewpoint, but everyday I interact with people and observe the world around me, I see less willingness to turn to reason or logic, and more importantly, even less demonstrated ability. And if reading this leads you to believe that I am just stroking my ego by including myself in the rational minority my world-view has assembled against a see of slack-jawed imbeciles, and this is just another case of an elitist jerk looking down of those he disagrees with, well... feel free to dismiss this as my opinion.<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jeremy-paxman-says-bibles-genesis-is-hogwash--bbc-says-comment-is-offensive-7994703.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_37_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jeremy-paxman-says-bibles-genesis-is-hogwash--bbc-says-comment-is-offensive-7994703.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Jeremy Paxman says Bible's Genesis is 'hogwash' - BBC says comment is offensive</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://francoistremblay.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/i-have-free-will-youre-a-deterministic-cog/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_3_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://francoistremblay.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/i-have-free-will-youre-a-deterministic-cog/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">I have free will, you're a deterministic cog.</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://freethoughtblogs.com/camelswithhammers/2012/08/03/summarizing-objections-to-my-stance-against-epithets-incivility-and-quickly-personalized-arguments/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_71_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://freethoughtblogs.com/camelswithhammers/2012/08/03/summarizing-objections-to-my-stance-against-epithets-incivility-and-quickly-personalized-arguments/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Summarizing Objections To My Stance Against Epithets, Incivility, And Quickly Personalized Arguments</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://recoveringagnostic.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/how-can-we-change-delusional-beliefs/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/109573020_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://recoveringagnostic.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/how-can-we-change-delusional-beliefs/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">How can we change delusional beliefs?</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/09/17/just_the_right_kind_of_stupid/" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/112599721_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/09/17/just_the_right_kind_of_stupid/" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Just the right kind of stupid</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://www.codeproject.com/Lounge.aspx?msg=4338197" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_65_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://www.codeproject.com/Lounge.aspx?msg=4338197" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">stupidity is a commodity...</a></li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="background: none; display: block; float: left; font-size: 11px; list-style: none; margin: 2px 10px 10px 2px; padding: 0; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; width: 84px;"><a href="http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2010/07/do-you-care-whether-the-things-you-believe-are-true.html" style="border-radius: 2px; box-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #999; display: block; padding: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_4_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0; max-width: 100%; padding: 0; width: 80px;" /></a><a href="http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2010/07/do-you-care-whether-the-things-you-believe-are-true.html" style="display: block; height: 80px; line-height: 12pt; overflow: hidden; padding: 5px 2px 0 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Do You Care Whether The Things You Believe Are True?</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=64ab0aa7-86d9-4c47-b6e7-3b755e11a756" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>
AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0Phillipsburg, NJ 08865, USA40.728439 -75.166212140.535914 -75.48206909999999 40.920964000000005 -74.8503551tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-47523294102900234742012-06-26T17:14:00.000-04:002012-06-26T17:14:22.697-04:006/25: Judges, Tech, Glee,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clarence_Thomas%2C_official_SCOTUS_portrait%2C_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="English: Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="375" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Clarence_Thomas%2C_official_SCOTUS_portrait%2C_crop.jpg/300px-Clarence_Thomas%2C_official_SCOTUS_portrait%2C_crop.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">English: Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clarence_Thomas%2C_official_SCOTUS_portrait%2C_crop.jpg">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Am I out of line for saying that the Supreme Court is a little more than a sad joke? A group of judges that vote almost exclusively along ideological political lines, yet are supposed to be the final arbiters of law and justice in our country based not on which political party gave them their position, but their expert interpretation of the law. Every five-four decision they hand down is a bitch slap in the face of every American who is impacted by their decisions.<br />
<br />
I realize that a significant portion of the country is eagerly awaiting the Supreme Court's ruling on Obama's Health Care plan, especially the media outlets, which are quickly running out of clever headlines. There was a point where I was following the whole Health Care debate issue myself. But now that the ultimate decision on whether or not Obamacare will stay or go rests in the hands of this collection of assholes, my interest has fled almost as rapidly as my hope.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
What's that? Samsung is releasing a potent <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.apple.com/iphone" rel="homepage" title="iPhone">iPhone</a> rival, and Microsoft has developed a new tablet to compete with the iPad? Hold on a second while I don't give a shit.<br />
<br />
There. All done.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<br />
Glenn Beck is apparently in the works to fix the damage done to the American culture by the hit show <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.netflix.com/Movie/Glee/70143843" rel="netflix" title="Glee">Glee</a> (he doesn't go into detail, but I'm assuming he's referring to the promotion of "The Gays") by producing his own right-wing version.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/U2uiy1Jz1j8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Hate to break it to Beck, but there already was a right-wing version of Glee. It was called Cop Rock.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gLm5Sn1cMyQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Personally, I'm looking forward to the revival. Should be interesting.<br />
<br />
*****<br />
<div class="zemanta-related" style="margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin-left: 0; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 12px; height: 240px; list-style: none; margin: 10px 40px 20px 0px; text-align: left; width: 80px;"><a href="http://muhsadam.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/watch-out-gleeks-the-old-man-mr-glenn-beck-working-on-anti-glee-project/" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/94765571_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #999; margin: 0; padding: 0;" width="80" /></a><a href="http://muhsadam.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/watch-out-gleeks-the-old-man-mr-glenn-beck-working-on-anti-glee-project/" style="display: block; height: 90px; line-height: 14pt; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 80px;" target="_blank">WATCH OUT GLEEKS: The Old Man Mr. Glenn Beck Working on Anti-GLEE Project</a><div style="clear: both; margin: 10px 0 10px 0;">
<hr style="margin: 0;" />
</div>
</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 12px; height: 240px; list-style: none; margin: 10px 40px 20px 0px; text-align: left; width: 80px;"><a href="http://jezebel.com/5919682/glenn-beck+produced-homo+free-version-of-musical-theater-to-feature-singing-dancing-self+loathing" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/95311327_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #999; margin: 0; padding: 0;" width="80" /></a><a href="http://jezebel.com/5919682/glenn-beck+produced-homo+free-version-of-musical-theater-to-feature-singing-dancing-self+loathing" style="display: block; height: 90px; line-height: 14pt; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 80px;" target="_blank">Glenn Beck-Produced, Homo-Free Version of Musical Theater to Feature Singing, Dancing, Self-Loathing [Glee]</a><div style="clear: both; margin: 10px 0 10px 0;">
<hr style="margin: 0;" />
</div>
</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 12px; height: 240px; list-style: none; margin: 10px 40px 20px 0px; text-align: left; width: 80px;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dean-obeidallah/obamacare-supreme-court_b_1621894.html" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/96438497_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #999; margin: 0; padding: 0;" width="80" /></a><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dean-obeidallah/obamacare-supreme-court_b_1621894.html" style="display: block; height: 90px; line-height: 14pt; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 80px;" target="_blank">Dean Obeidallah: Why It's Actually Good for Obama If Supreme Court Strikes Obamacare</a><div style="clear: both; margin: 10px 0 10px 0;">
<hr style="margin: 0;" />
</div>
</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 12px; height: 240px; list-style: none; margin: 10px 40px 20px 0px; text-align: left; width: 80px;"><a href="http://perezhilton.com/2012-06-18-glenn-beck-on-glee" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/95062687_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #999; margin: 0; padding: 0;" width="80" /></a><a href="http://perezhilton.com/2012-06-18-glenn-beck-on-glee" style="display: block; height: 90px; line-height: 14pt; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 80px;" target="_blank">Glenn Beck Vs. Glee: The War Rages On!</a><div style="clear: both; margin: 10px 0 10px 0;">
<hr style="margin: 0;" />
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=3d06a560-5823-4c22-9071-b5bdcfeca9ac" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1447397697334511688.post-4365371448432348962012-06-23T15:28:00.001-04:002012-06-23T15:28:51.718-04:00Comcast Joins the WTF List (Transcript Enclosed)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/company/comcast" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Image representing Comcast as depicted in Crun..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="50" src="http://www.crunchbase.com/assets/images/resized/0001/8607/18607v1-max-450x450.png" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="155" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 155px;">Image via <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/" target="_blank">CrunchBase</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During all the recent bullshit issues with Verizon's crappy service, I thought I would check for other local internet providers. This is a fruitless endeavor that I undergo every year or so to fight of the realization that, due to my proximity to Pennsyltuckey, the only internet options available to me are Verizon Suck-Ass <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_subscriber_line" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Digital subscriber line">DSL</a> (that's actually the package plan name) and <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.sectv.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Service Electric">Service Electric</a>, a company that you've never heard of because it is a rinky-dink local cable service staffed by mentally unstable <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howler_monkey" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Howler monkey">howler monkeys</a> with a service radius that doesn't exceed the distance that the owners can travel on a full tank of gas in their '78 <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Dart" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Dodge Dart">Dodge Dart</a>.<br />
<br />
It appeared that luck was indeed a lady tonight, as an availability check of my address on the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Comcast">Comcast</a> website resulted in a positive result and, after confirming the availability of service at my address with two separate chat room service reps, an order request for immediate installation.<br />
<br />
Lady Luck turned out to be a heartless bitch, however, when a call to confirm receipt of my order resulted in an unrealistically smug Comcast operator inform my that Comcast is not available in my area after all, and that the mistake must have been mine, not theirs. No transcript exists for this phone call, but you can easily recreate it in your head by simply imagining a volley of angry shouting with MOTHERFUCKER used as punctuation.<br />
<br />
However, two days later, an email arrived from Comcast asking me if I would be so kind as to finish placing my order for internet service. How could I possibly refuse?<br />
<br />
On a side note, my current ticket number is 010435819. <br />
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_advlog_none cc_usertype_undefined " style="margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_advlog_none cc_usertype_undefined " style="color: dimgrey; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_advlog_none cc_usertype_undefined " style="color: dimgrey; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
analyst Ankit has entered room</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Hello Scott, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Ankit. Please give me one moment to review your information.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Welcome to Comcast. We appreciate the time you are taking to contact us, I will be assisting you from here on out. Before anything else, I would like to ask, how are you doing today?</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>Awesome.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>I am good to know that you are doing Awesome.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span><span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">I am not "doing" </span><span style="color: blue;">Awesome. I "am" Awesome. But I can understand your confusion.</span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>May I ask you if you are an existing customer with Comcast?</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>No.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>I mean No, I am not an existing customer, not No, you can not ask a question. Just to clarify.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span> We are glad to have your business. Thank you for taking interest in Comcast services.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span><span style="color: blue;">Taking AN interest. Which I have.</span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Please verify the following details:</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><span style="color: green;">Ankit: </span>(Ankit lists my address information here, which you don't need to know, but he certainly does. I happily confirm the information.)</span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Please give me 2 minutes to locate your address in our system. Is that fine with you?</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>Certainly. But I will be timing you.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Thanks.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span><span style="color: blue;">The pleasure is all mine, one hundred and seven seconds.</span>
</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Did you call Comcast for the registration of your address in our database Scott?</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>Yes I did. They told me that Comcast was not available at my address.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>I see Scott.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span><span style="color: blue;">Really? Than what am I wearing?</span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span><span style="color: blue;">Oh, never mind. I get it.</span>
</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Thank you very much for being so cooperative, nice and patient. I would like to inform you that I have double checked our system, unfortunately, I am unable to find a match for you address It could be that the address never had our services and has not been registered with us yet.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>Two support techs on your site in chats like this have told me that this is available at my address.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>So I'd really like to know why I am getting different answers from the same company...</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>And if it isn't available at my address, why the website and online support is telling me that it is.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Scott, please allow me few moments o cross check.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>to**</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><span class="ccMessagFrom" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">It's a little late to start correcting typos, isn't it?</span></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>If my address is not registered with you, why is the website allowing me to order service?</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>And why after the first attempt at subscribing didn't go through, that the website keeps sending me emails asking me to complete my purchase.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Scott, website will allow the any address that is an actual address.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Even if the address will not be registered with us yet, I will send your request personally for the same.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Let me send your request right away.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>No... the website asks to enter the address to see if service is available to me. I didn't just fill out a "Request" form, I filled out an "Order" form.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>If the website accepts any address, than why would it ask to check if service is available to me?</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span><span class="ccMessagFrom" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">E</span>ither way, somebody is lying and wasting my time.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Scott, website is connected with USPS that is why website is accepting your address.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span><span style="color: blue;">THE website, and a comma after USPS, and THE website again. Oh, and bullshit.</span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused you. I can certainly understand your frustration, please allow me to raise a request for you.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>Ankit, the sight asks for the address in order to search for availability of the service.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>Which means I am being lied to.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>And my time is being wasted. </div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>And why would you encourage people unable to subscribe to your service to go through the ordering process and tie up finite labor hours following through on nonexistent service orders?</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>I understand, I am continously searching your address, I apologize for the inconvenience this has caused you.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Please give me a chance to set things up perfectly.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>At this point I'd settle for half-assed.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>I will raise a request only for you.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott:</span><span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"> Only for me? I feel so special now.</span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Comcast will call you within 24 hours and will register your address.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>I will send your request personally for the same.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>eanwhile, May I get your preferred date for installation please?</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>If it's actually available in my area, as soon as possible.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Thank you very much for being so cooperative, and nice.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Let me send your request right away.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>I'm still trying to figure out how service was not available to me, but all of a sudden it is.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>And as for me being cooperative and nice, try mastering the English language first, and then we can work on sarcasm.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>I will surely consider your advice.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span><span class="ccMessagFrom" style="color: blue; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">I should hope so. It is sage and profound.</span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>This has been escalated to our support team who will further investigate this for a resolution. They will contact you for further information within 24 hours. Address registration is something which is only possible by call, however, I took this exception just for you. They will register your address+will set the installation date if possible + will provide you the new Comcast account as well as order number + you will also receive an e-mail confirmation. I took this exception just for you.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>We can start with the sentence "I am good to know that you are doing Awesome."</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>"It is" good to know makes grammatical sense, and you can BE awesome, but you cannot BE DOING awesome.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>I am really sorry for this, I will surely try and take care of it future,</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>Just trying to help.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>If you are representing a communications company, it makes sense to have adequate communication skills.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>I apologize for that once again and I will surely take care of that in future.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>Again, let's hammer down the grammar before wading through the sarcasm. You and I both know I'm being a dick.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><span class="ccMessagFrom" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">But that's to be expected from potential customers when they're forced to deal with a support network that has no logical thread of accountability.</span></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Scott, I really appreciate your help.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>It's not you, Ankit. You're just a cog. I understand.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>My apologies, Scott.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Trust me I will take care of it in future.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>...in THE future.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Sorry again.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>I have raised your request to our support team.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Comcast will call you within 24 hours and will register your address.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>Thanks, Ankit. Have a good weekend, wherever you are.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>You are welcome. You too have a good weekend.</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_user " style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Scott: </span>Thanks. Fight the power! Occupy Bangladesh!</div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ccMessage cc_msgtype_msg cc_usertype_analyst " style="color: green; font-family: Arial; margin-bottom: 8px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; text-indent: -15px;">
<span class="ccMessagFrom" style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static;">Ankit: </span>Take Care of yourslef and have a wonderful time and smiling moments ahead!!! See you!!!</div>
<div class="zemanta-related" style="margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;">
<h4 class="zemanta-related-title">
Related articles</h4>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul zemanta-article-ul-image" style="margin-left: 0; padding: 0;">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 12px; height: 240px; list-style: none; margin: 10px 40px 20px 0px; text-align: left; width: 80px;"><a href="http://hugmamma.com/2012/06/21/calling-comcast-are-you-there/" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/95710271_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #999; margin: 0; padding: 0;" width="80" /></a><a href="http://hugmamma.com/2012/06/21/calling-comcast-are-you-there/" style="display: block; height: 90px; line-height: 14pt; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 80px;" target="_blank">calling comcast...are you there?</a><div style="clear: both; margin: 10px 0 10px 0;">
<hr style="margin: 0;" />
</div>
</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 12px; height: 240px; list-style: none; margin: 10px 40px 20px 0px; text-align: left; width: 80px;"><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/timothylee/2012/06/06/comcasts-obnoxious-price-discrimnation-strategy/" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_09_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #999; margin: 0; padding: 0;" width="80" /></a><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/timothylee/2012/06/06/comcasts-obnoxious-price-discrimnation-strategy/" style="display: block; height: 90px; line-height: 14pt; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 80px;" target="_blank">Why Comcast's Price Discrimination Strategy Makes Me Hate Them</a><div style="clear: both; margin: 10px 0 10px 0;">
<hr style="margin: 0;" />
</div>
</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li-image zemanta-article-ul-li" style="display: block; float: left; font-size: 12px; height: 240px; list-style: none; margin: 10px 40px 20px 0px; text-align: left; width: 80px;"><a href="http://bricefaulkner.typepad.com/blog/2012/06/comcast-internet-problems.html" style="border: 0; display: block; margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0;" target="_blank"><img src="http://i.zemanta.com/93900838_80_80.jpg" style="border: 0; box-shadow: 1px 1px 3px #999; margin: 0; padding: 0;" width="80" /></a><a href="http://bricefaulkner.typepad.com/blog/2012/06/comcast-internet-problems.html" style="display: block; height: 90px; line-height: 14pt; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 80px;" target="_blank">Comcast internet problems</a><div style="clear: both; margin: 10px 0 10px 0;">
<hr style="margin: 0;" />
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=f77a675c-8025-40c1-a399-0652a94fd490" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>AuthorSMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05587049644182320299noreply@blogger.com1